does illegal consumption attach to a criminal record?

1

It blows me away that MIP's are misdemeanors in some states. Your state must be ran by a bunch of puritans. Oy vey... Well, it will be on your record if you got it as an adult and stay there unless you get it removed. I'd try and get it expunged, but even if you don't expunge it, I don't know very many employers that would think a legal adult who got caught drinking in college under 21 is such a criminal act that would make them shun you. I would laugh and be like, oh man, that sucks.

EDIT: I Don't know why someone thumbsdowned the poster above me. Unfortunately that's the law in Indiana - they only allow expungements for arrest records that did not result in a conviction, and only in some circumstances. Otherwise you have to wait 15 years and can get it sealed, but law enforcement agencies can still have limited access to it. Here's the the big question though - why did you take a class? Was that a diversion program or part of your punishment? Like did they make you pay a fine AND go to the class? That doesn't seem normal. Most states, if you have no previous record, they may give you the option to plea guilty and take diversion and get your charge reduced or even dismissed. There may be other conditions required besides the diversion itself, like, if you do not get in trouble for the next two years, along with pleading guilty and taking the class, and/or paying a fine. So is that anything like what they offered you? If they didn't, then that sucks. You probably could have gotten a lawyer to work out a deal like that for you.

EDIT2: This is IMPORTANT: I got one last possible remedy you could attempt to try, but you will need to consult a local attorney with experience on these matters. You can try and have your plea set aside. What's the harm in trying? I mean, if you get it set aside, and they don't agree to a better bargain to reduce it to an infraction or dismiss it, and have a trial and are found guilty, you will end up with the same result you have right now. So if you care about your future, spending the money on hiring a lawyer to get it set aside and attempting to bargain a better deal or get you acquitted may be worth it, even if you end up where you are now. If there was any way I could get it off there, and I was in your shoes, I'd do it. I'd borrow the money if I needed to, because having future opportunities impeded due to one stupid charge would suck, and paying out money now would be worth it. And think about way down the road. You will regret it if you don't at least try. Good luck! And if it doesn't work out, at least you can tell people, yea, I drank in college, because I was popular and invited to parties that were apparently so awesome that the cops got called. Does that make me such a bad person? Haha..

Yes, unless you can get a pardon from the governor (which almost never happens). After 15 years have gone by, you may be able to petition to have the records sealed. Law enforcement will still have access but not the general public.

"IC 35-38-5-5

Petition to limit access to limited criminal history of person discharged from probation, imprisonment, or parole

Sec. 5. (a) This section does not apply to a request to a law enforcement agency for the release or inspection of a limited criminal history to a noncriminal justice organization or individual whenever the subject of the request is described in IC 10-13-3-27(a)(8) or IC 10-13-3-27(a)(12).

(b) A person may petition the state police department to limit access to the person's limited criminal history to criminal justice agencies if more than fifteen (15) years have elapsed since the date the person was discharged from probation, imprisonment, or parole (whichever is later) for the last conviction for a crime.

(c) When a petition is filed under subsection (b), the state police department shall not release limited criminal history to noncriminal justice agencies under IC 10-13-3-27.

As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.56-1998, SEC.18; P.L.10-1999, SEC.3; P.L.2-2003, SEC.92; P.L.2-2005, SEC.124."

If you were over 18 at the time of the conviction, it stays on your record forever.

Unless you done an expungement of your criminal record.

If in case you want to check your own record you obtained it thru online site that offer a background criminal record check.

Hope this a help!

God Bless!

What kind of Charge was it? Did you go to a regular municipal court, or a Student one?

I was at a "dry" campus, what they did there at Student Court (I was 22) didn't hold in a court of law. They didn't even Try with me, they knew I was over 21.

If you got a regular charge, it usually stays on 5 years, depending on your state. Almost anything can be expunged, set aside, or sealed (relief from [economic] disabilty), or pardon. It is free. The only things truly "permanent" are like murder, etc. This small misdemeanor, I wouldn't even worry about unless you find it hard to get work Specifically because of it. A lot of employers might laugh, remembering their keggers at college. It might even Get you a job.

did you plead guilty or no contest?