There are millions of people living on Long Island, making it the most heavily populated island in the country. And from time to time, those who call the island home make mistakes. If you’ve made a mistake and found yourself facing a shoplifting charge, it can be difficult to know what steps you need to take.
Shoplifting can seem like it’s a fairly minor charge, and while in most cases it will only be a misdemeanor, it can have a lasting impact on your life. Jail sentences are possible, especially if you have a criminal history or if the amount of goods stolen is very large. Fines are more common, and so is probation. However, another factor to consider is that if convicted you will have a criminal history that will last for years, making it harder to find employment, get a loan, and more.
For many, the automatic assumption is that they should simply plead guilty and then take the repercussions. This is usually because those charged with shoplifting feel that they have no other option – the evidence against them is often very strong and leads them to feel as though a plea agreement is all that they can do to better their situation.
Before you make a deal, it’s a good idea to contact an attorney. There are number of different things that could have a shoplifting charge dropped, reduced, or lead to a not guilty verdict. The key is knowing what to look for and how to go about it, and this isn’t always easy to do.
A good attorney will have years of experience in the process and can easily help explain to you just what options you really have and which ones are worth pursuing. There may be ways that they can possibly get your charges dropped, or they could suggest that a plea is indeed your best option. Either way, talking to the professionals first is very important.
So just what should you do when charged with shoplifting? Make no statements and don’t talk to the authorities about your charges until you contact a criminal defense attorney, to put it plainly. They’ll be able to take over your case and help get the best possible outcome from it no matter what that outcome may be. Your future is at stake when facing any kind of criminal charge, so don’t make the mistake of ignoring what a good criminal defense lawyer can do for you.