What can I do if I was charged with grand larceny? 5 Answers as of January 20, 2012

Your public defender should try to get you an ACOD-adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal- which means the case is adjourned for 6 months and if you do not get into trouble during that period it is dismissed after the 6 months. You also may qualify for Youthful Offender treatment which means even if you do not get an ACOD and either you plead guilty to something or get convicted after trial the conviction would be vacated if you get youthful Offender treatment. Your attorney should try to get a no jail promise from the judge. Yes paying for the item will help.

You have to put your faith in your defender. A sentence depends on a lot of things like the exact charge(s), how cooperative the complainant(s) are, any injuries or property damage, the criminal history (including all arrests even if no convictions), behavior towards the arresting officer(s) and other factors.

If you are under 19 you are eligible for Youthful Offender Treatment and since it is not a violent crime the judge cannot deny the YO. You will not go to jail and will not have a criminal record, but the YO record may hurt you with the military or government positions. The prosecutor and judge will know if you are ever arrested again and you will face a prison term. Life is about making good decisions and you made a very poor decision to steal and get arrested. You risked your future and your reputation for money and probably embarrassed your parents. You need to make better decisions in the future.

You may be eligible for youthful offender and probation in which case you will not go to jail. Also, part of the deal which your lawyer may make could include paying back what the cost of the item was.

The best thing to do is consult with your attorney. Public defender's are generally very good and experienced attorneys but they are slow to respond because they are incredibly overworked. If you are 17 and this is your first offense it is unlikely that you will go to jail and you may even be eligible for something called a youthful offender disposition which will eventually seal your record if you don't get into any additional trouble. Paying restitution may also help but again, you should first and always consult with your attorney as many actions could impact your case.