My question involves criminal law for the state of: NJ

Okay back in december I was caught at a mall for shoplifting 178 worth of clothing. Basically I was detained, signed papers confirming that I did steal the said values, my friend and I were arrested and dropped back off at our cars about an hour later with court summons. Showed up for the arraignment and plead not guilty. My friend recieved a public defender and I did not. He had a value of 325 dollars and he was a class above me, I was charged with the misdeamnor version since my value was under 200 and his was over 200. I also had a recieving charge for 68 dollars (I got that for willingly accepting and carrying someone else's stolen merchandise which was eventually caught with me when my friend and I were detained). So court comes up second time around, I plead guilty with the prosecutor giving me a municipal ordinance and a 500 fine. My friend's case was downgraded back to municipal court and he ended up recieving the same punishment. His public defender told him the municipal ordinance would not go on his criminal record. However i've heard conflicting things that a. it does go on the record and b. it doesn't but its in like some unofficial database which other people can access and find it in the event, say, we were caught shoplifting again. Can anybody clarify?