I am 20 years old and recently was arrested for minor consumption of alcohol. This is my first offense of any kind ever. i know the maximum penalty is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. my question is what are the chances I will have to do jail time? I think it is unlikely but i am worried about it. Also, is there any way for this to eventually be off my record? Is this something I have to hire an attorney for?

If you have never had any other issues with the law there is no reason why you cannot plea to a diversion. I would consult with an Attorney first though just to be sure. Has your court date been set yet to plea guilty or not guilty? In my experience in the court room most plea guilty and are given a sentence suspended which will be off of your record in 1-2 years as long as you stay out of trouble. You will have to pay court cost also.

I can understand this is a frustrating situation for you. I would think jail time would be a harsh penalty for a first offence as well, but there are many factors that may influence a judge's decision. Any additional information you could post about what happened may help you get better responses from other posters.

I suggest you speak to an attorney regarding legal options for defending against any criminal charges. You can find more information about an attorney through the attorney locator service on LawInfo's home page at: http://www.lawinfo.com/. Some do offer free consultations.