Long Island is home to more than 40% of the population of New York City. Among the residents, some will end up facing various criminal charges and finding the kind of help that you need is important. Shoplifting charges are one of the more common criminal charges, and while they’re fairly minor when compared to things like federal crimes they can still have a big impact on your life. Understanding more about them is important.
Knowing what to expect from shoplifting charges will help you avoid the stress of the unknown and help you know what steps you should take to help yourself. With that in mind, here are a few things to understand about shoplifting charges.
- The penalties for shoplifting are directly related to the value of the items stolen. Items valued less than $1,000 bring misdemeanor charges while items valued more than $1,000 can bring about felony grand larceny charges.
- Your criminal history will also have an impact on the sentence you’re given if found guilty.
- Based on the above, sentences could be nothing more than fines based on the value of the items and what the shoplifter earned from stealing them, but could lead to between 4 and 25 years in jail depending on various aspects of the case.
- Additionally, your conviction will remain on your criminal record for years. This can impact credit decisions, cause difficulty finding employment, and much more. If found not guilty, no impact will be made on your record. This is incredibly important to understand, and the long term consequences of shoplifting are often more impactful than the short term ones.
- Your best bet for defending yourself against shoplifting charges is simple – find a good attorney. They can help you review your case, determine what options are best for you, and much more. Simply put, you need to find a good attorney and speak to them about your case as soon as possible after being charged.
Shoplifting charges are very serious, despite their reputation as being a minor crime. If you find yourself facing shoplifting charges, you should do all that you can to help yourself. Find a good lawyer and keep the points above in mind to help guide you through the days and weeks following charges.