Today I signed a Tender of Plea or admission & waiver of rights form in a Massachusetts court for shoplifitng about $180 worth of items. This is the very first time I have been arrested and everything happened so quickly all within 18 hours from my arrest to my first court appearance. The prosecuter showed me this "tender of plea or admission" form and recommend that I sign it and pay a penalty (or court fees) of $300 and he wrote Dism. (next to it) he was very quick and I was nervous, he explained after I signed this I can pay and leave. That was good for me, but now after thinking about it. I never had the opportunity to ask if this goes on my permanent record as a criminal. I am gulty of shoplifiting but did I make a mistake signing this form (which seemed like the easy way out?) It seemed like I would be able o avoid probabtion and community service by signing this. But more importantly how will this show on my record? Is it temporary or permanent? I am 28 years old and looking for a new job for a respectable marketing firm. Please help! Did I make a mistake?

