I have admitted to taking $141.00 from work. I go to court tomorrow. I have never been to court before, or been charged or arrested for anything. What should I do? What should I expect to happen?

At your first appearance for a criminal charge, you will be advised of your rights and the charges against you. Among the rights the Judge will explain to you is the right to be represented by counsel. If you cannot afford counsel, you can ask that a lawyer be appointed to represent you. This is your constitutional right, and you should exercise it. After advising you of your rights, and addressing the issue of counsel, the court may set the matter for a pre-trial conference or similar proceeding. Keep in mind that the entire matter need not be resolved tomorrow, it is only your first appearance. Even though you may have admitted to your employer or the police that you took money from your workplace, you do not have to make any admissions tomorrow. Nor should you make any admissions without the advice of counsel. I recommend you exercise your right to counsel. While the district attorney may be willing to discuss a plea bargain with you tomorrow, you should first discuss the facts of your case with an experienced defense attorney. He or she will then obtain and review the police reports and be in a position to advise you as to possible defenses to the charge. Your attorney can also advise you as to whether you have grounds to challenge the admissibility of your admissions, and if so, the strength of the state's case without them. In the event your attorney concludes, after reviewing the state's evidence and listening to your recitation of events, that a plea bargain is in your best interest, he or she will be able to negotiate the best possible resolution. There are many different kinds of plea bargains, with varying consequences, some of which last long after the case is over. For example, if this is your first offense, and considering the amount involved is relatively small, it may be possible for your attorney to negotiate a deferred-type plea disposition which provides that if you stay out of trouble for a period of time, you will not be left with a permanent conviction on your record. A criminal charge is merely an accusation. The burden is on the state to prove each and every element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt, with legally competent and admissible evidence. Since this is your first exposure to the criminal justice system, I highly recommend you obtain counsel to advise you.