<p>I know there were some threads a few years ago, but the common app wording has changed slightly. Here is what it says in common app.</p>
<p>"Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? Note that you are not required to answer "yes" to this question, or provide an explanation, if the criminal adjudication or conviction has been expunged, sealed, annulled, pardoned, destroyed, erased, impounded, or otherwise ordered by a court to be kept confidential."</p>
<p>So basically, if I was only cautioned, and not prosecuted, I was not convicted right? Does that means I can honestly answer that question with a No?</p>
<p>What if you did plead guilty, but were not prosecuted?
Does no prosecution = no conviction?
Sorry I don’t really know the exact legal definitions of all these terms</p>
<p>Plead guilty means you were prosecuted. One thing I advise you to do is just be honest and give an explanation in the additional info section. Colleges realize that you are young and may make mistakes. Being honest about them to the college and telling the college what you learned from the experience and how you will not repeat it goes a long way. Adjudicated guilty follows pleading guilty because if you remembered when giving the plead the judge told you that this means you are guilty of the crime that you are charged. </p>
<p>If a college looks up to see if you have a record or if a teacher/counselor refers to it in a letter then you want to be the one to first disclose it.</p>
<p>Then maybe I didn’t plead guilty?
Basically I admitted it, but the police did not charge me
I just had to go through this superintendent warning
I did not go to court or anything
They did take down my info, but it is supposed to be removed when I turn 18
And I don’t think my current school knows cos the police said they won’t tell?</p>
<p>Do you still have your paperwork from the incident? It sounds like you were part of a diversion program, which is pleading guilty, and then having the sentence suspended as long as you follow certain conditions.
If you cannot find your paperwork, you can go back to the police department to request it.</p>
<p>Yes I have the paperwork. It says that I was “cautioned but not prosecuted”.
I was “cautioned” and basically I just have to make sure I don’t do anything wrong again.</p>
<p>Please can somebody just answer this bit:
I think conviction means sentenced and prosecuted means charge righttt?
So if I am not prosecuted, I CAN’T be convicted can I?
Which means I can answer NO on the common app right?
I know I may sound a bit annoying, but I am just really worried.
Thanks in advance</p>
<p>It sounds to me like you just got a warning from the police, but weren’t formally charged - if you never went to court, you aren’t guilty and you can say NO honestly.</p>