Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

Adjudication means that either a jury or a judge has found you either guilty or not-guilty.

A "withhold adjudication" means that there has been a deal struck between you and the state on a criminal count for which you were charged. The State "withholds adjudication" for a period of time specified as either supervised probation or unsupervised probation. If you don't get into trouble during the period set by the court the record will show that you were charged with the crime but that "adjudication was withheld."

Now the real problem is when you apply for college or work, especially if the work requires a professional license. If you are asked have you ever been arrested, if you were say yes and for what you were arrested on the application. If it says "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" You need to tell say on the application you had adjudication withheld, but you were not convicted.

I have seen too many people with licenses from the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation and from the University System, either loose their license, have the license suspended with a big fine or the person kicked out of school for lying on answer of whether or not you have been arrested or convicted of a crime.

People who have their adjudication withheld get in trouble because they don't disclose properly. Always disclose a withheld adjudication. Most jobs and most schools will take people with arrest records and a withheld adjudication. If they find out you lied, you will loose your job or be removed from school.