<p>Every court is different, but there is not much chance you are going to get an earlier hearing date.</p>
<p>You may not get an earlier hearing date, but if you can talk to the judge, he/she may be able to advise you on programs to get a “head start”.</p>
<p>And these things take time. They don’t make it a walk in the park. It will take time to complete all the required community service hours (it will surely be more than doing one weekend build at a Habitat for humanity), he’ll have to attend those classes probably more than one meeting/class) and will probably have to check in regularly with whoever coordinates the Diversion program to show he is staying the course and doing what he is supposed to. This could take weeks to months. Don’t mean to scare you, but I doubt it will be done in a few days.</p>
<p>Someone had this question about Harvard recently and a look on the Harvard application provides precise details on answering the question. Perhaps he could take a look at the schools where he will be applying to see what they require and allow.</p>
<p>TXArtemis, if you have experience with students who disclosed a marijuana citation during high school and still got into Ivies, that is great. I don’t doubt that they evaluate each situation individually. I’ve just seen that sort of situation go the other way, too, especially when it occurred senior year. It’s still worth a shot at applying even if you have a citation to explain, but it is not a good thing to show to colleges if you can help it.</p>
<p>This sort of thing is just too ridiculous. Marijuana should be legal. </p>
<p>I realize that this doesn’t help the OP at all, though. :(</p>
<p>I certainly know people who were busted in days of yore and ended up with undergraduate and professional degrees from schools like MIT, Penn, the U of C, careers in medicine, jobs as actuaries working for insurance companies, highly paid jobs as quants for Merrill Lynch, and the like.</p>
<p>Apparently timing is all.</p>
<p>When my S1 got underage drinking and resisting arrest citations (4th of July partying…summer before soph. yr of college) he had to do community service to get the charges dropped. He was required to do 50 hours and was responsible for finding an agency in his college city in which to do it. He ended up working at a center city men’s shelter. It took awhile (most of the semester) to work off the hours because he had a heavy college courseload and time consuming EC.</p>
<p>It simply is not a criminal charge, so should be ‘no’ all the way through.</p>
<p>The answer you put is no. The point of pretrail diversion program is to give a second chance. The pretrail diversion means charges will be dropped if he completes the recommended program.</p>
<p>If he is doing pretrial diversion, charges are being dropped. It is not a lie to say no.</p>
<p>Hanna, thanks for your insight. I obviously needed to hear the flip side–the ones I know were obviously very lucky (and yes, two Ivies, among other elites).</p>
<p>OP, best wishes as your son goes forward. Flash forward 5 years, this will be a blip. But I know it feels huge right now. Perhaps your attorney can talk with the prosecutor tomorrow and see if the State will agree to an accelerated diversion such that your son will owe no disclosure duty by the time regular admission deadlines arrive. Missing the early round might be his toughest consequence. :(</p>
<p>You may be getting incorrect advice here. What does your attorney say? The pretrial diversion requires an sdmission of guilt, but if your s successfully completes the program, teh chargeds are dropped. If he doesn’t the guilty plea stands [Pretrial</a> Diversion Agreement | eHow.com](<a href=“http://www.ehow.com/about_6117842_pretrial-diversion-agreement.html]Pretrial”>http://www.ehow.com/about_6117842_pretrial-diversion-agreement.html)</p>
<p>D had two friends who were suspended and charged on possession. They are both at good schools now. They were essential good kids, who had worked hard, etc. I thought their chances were gone-- but I think it’s a common enough offense that it’s not taken that seriously. (Of course, it’s better not to have it on your record…but it doesn’t seem to be the end of the world.)</p>
<p>A drug conviction can affect eligibility for Federal Financial Aid, so proceed carefully. You may even want to plea bargain to a fine-only charge not related to drugs. I believe in GA, you only get one bite at the apple (diversion program), so pleading guilty to a non-drug related charge may preserve that option for a future charge. - Note: I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.</p>
<p>What is the potential penalty if he does not do diversion? Fine only, or jail? If fine only, then it may not be considered a criminal charge.</p>
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<p>We are going through a similar situation, but our S does have a conviction (reckless driving). We have decided to report it on S’s applications (that require disclosure). It has been a hard decision, but we feel it is right to be completely honest and if it hurts S’s chances well so be it. This is something he is going to deal with the rest of his life. </p>
<p>The one thing I would say to the OP is that you need to know what would appear on a criminal background check at the time the application is submitted. You can go get a copy of it from your local police department. If anything shows up (like what he was charged with), I would report it on the applications if they require it. Heaven forbid if he were to get in a bit of trouble after he starts college and they decide to do a background check and see there was something that was not reported on his application then they have the right to release him. I have learned that some colleges in our state will do random background checks. </p>
<p>I have noticed that many schools ask this question differently. Some just ask about felonies, but some want any conviction or charge. So be careful and make sure you are honest about the situation.</p>
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Not necessarily. It depends on the state. It makes perfect sense that they are not necessarily the same thing. Some people want it to go away discreetly while others are too risk averse even they have a strong case.</p>
<p>Sam – I was reading the criteria on the state of Georgia diversion program website. It appears that in Georgia, unless they have change something, it requires an admission of guilt. The additional description again comes from their website, saying that if the program is not completed to their satisfaction, but the guilty plea would then be enforced.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, check NO. We had this issue with a legal thing where this cactus question came up. The lawyers said check no…it is NOT a conviction.</p>
<p>You could destroy his life if you check yes. Once he completes the pretrial diversion, it will be gone. But, you put it on his application, he will always be doubted.</p>
<p>Even the FBI will tell you to check no on this (I am referring for security clearances for defense contract work for places lie Lockheed, TI! And Raytheon). Even the public schools will tell the staff to click no for the clearance to work there. It is NOT a conviction.</p>
<p>And the guilty plea is only so that if he fails to complete the program, there is o need for trial. It basically gives him incentive to complete the program.</p>
<p>jym, I immediately thought as you did and was even more convinced after consulting a few Georgia law sites; however, re-read the OP’s posts to this thread–she clearly understands the issue and states 1-the diversion scheme offered to her son will not require a plea triggering disclosure and 2-their lawyer says no disclosure is required on the plea question.</p>