Asked 7/13/17 – Austin, TX

I shoplifted with a couple friends when I was 15 but was never arrested, they offered me the diversion program and said I was never charged with anything and nothing will be put on my record if I completed the program. I completed it, so now I’m 18 about to join the military and was wondering if they would see this on my record.

Answer

I have questions about the type of diversion program you completed. I assume the program was imposed and supervised by some court of competent jurisdiction, and I would have to know exactly what court, what was filed, and how the case was resolved. As a general rule, governmental agencies will see juvenile records but the general public will not. If you had an attorney represent you in the case you describe, contact her/him. If you did not, contact the court that imposed the diversion, see if you can obtain copies of the paperwork and have a local attorney review same to answer your question.