My question involves criminal law for the state of: the District of Columbia, Washington D.C.
I am 22. I was caught shoplifting, arrested, released and given a court date. This is my first shoplifting offense. I regret my actions and I am very ashamed. My problem is that I am a full time out of state student here in D.C. living on an intern's stipend. My court date is set after I am leaving D.C. to return to school back at my home state. I will no longer have housing nor any means of staying in D.C. I am going to try to move my court date to a sooner date.
I have done my research, and I plan to get a Criminal Justice Act (CJA) lawyer or a Public Defender (PD) to represent me in court as I have no means of hiring a private lawyer. I will be graduating college this spring, and having a shoplifting conviction on my record will really hinder me from finding a job.
Here are my questions.
1) As it is my first shoplifiting offense, how probably is it for my charges to be reduced so I don't get a misdemeanor?
2) The first court case you go to is an "arraignment", right? Can I secure a CJA lawyer or PD pre-arraignment to try to reduce my charges? Because I am leaving D.C. soon I am trying to get this taken care of as soon as possible.
3) If the court determines that I must do community service or a diversion program, can I complete it out of state in my home state?
Thank you. I appreciate any guidance you can give me.