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What Shoplifting Charges Could Mean For Your Future

What Shoplifting Charges Could Mean For Your FutureWith almost 8 million people living on Long Island it’s impossible to stamp out all crime there. Sometimes, we just make mistakes and if you find yourself facing criminal charges, it is important to educate yourself about them. One charge that is generally thought of as fairly minor is shoplifting. But taking a closer look at it, you’ll see that it’s important to take shoplifting charges seriously since they could impact your life in some very significant ways.

The key thing to understand about shoplifting charges is that the punishments will be influenced by the value of the items stolen as well as by previous offenses on your criminal record and the amount of money earned by selling the stolen items. Here are the basics.

  • The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor is 1 year.
  • For a felony, it depends on the degree of felony, which is determined by the amount alleged to have been stolen.
  • The E felony of grand larceny is punishable by a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years.
  • The B felony is punishable by 8 1/3 to 25 years.

As mentioned above, criminal history will play a part in your sentence as well. Often, first offenders who are charged with misdemeanor offenses will receive a fine, probation, and perhaps community service or other similar charges. But with a larger criminal history, penalties can quickly become more severe.

Another thing to think about is that your immediate sentence is only one part of a larger issue. In particular, your conviction will go on your criminal record and stay there. Having a criminal record could make it much more difficult to find employment, secure a loan, and much more. Already, about 90% of employers utilize some form of background check and that number is climbing. In short, it’s something that will impact you in tremendous ways.

Shoplifting charges can seem minor, but they’re much more serious than you might initially assume. It’s important that you take these charges very seriously and take the right steps to fight them. A good attorney can help, and securing one should be your first step towards doing just that.