Hi all,

A few weeks I received a disorderly conduct for public urination in the state of Pennsylvania (particularly, in Pittsburgh right off of my college campus). I had to go to the bathroom really bad so I went to the back of a parking lot to take a leak and a cop saw me.

I received a disorderly conduct from the officer. He advised me to appear in court and 9 times out of 10, if it was my first offense, the judge just drops the fine and gives community service. He also said that he'd be willing to testify that I was cooperative. I assumed that he wanted me to plead not guilty so I did so, and have to appear in court on Monday. As I have never been in trouble with the law before, I have two questions:

1) What should I expect to happen on my court date? Will I have to do much talking or will the judge just like offer me a reduced sentence if I give a guilty plea or what? Is there any situation in which this will not be on my record? If it is on my record, do jobs see it and/or care?

2) Should I get a lawyer for this?


Thanks!