Your Child Has Been Caught Shoplifting—Your Next Steps
Getting the call that your child has been caught shoplifting is incredibly embarrassing. As a parent, you may feel shock, anger, and disbelief. But it’s important to take a deep breath and decide how to proceed before reacting out of anger or embarrassment. California’s juvenile justice system aims to rehabilitate young offenders, not punish them. With the help of a California juvenile defense attorney, you can advocate for your child and protect their promising future.
At Milligan Beswick Levine & Knox, LLP, we understand the anxiety and helplessness parents often feel when they find out their child has been dabbling in illegal activities. We’re here to help. Our team is full of experienced juvenile defense lawyers who can help you defend your child and get them back on track. Attorney James Knox has almost three decades of legal experience, and his in-depth knowledge of criminal law and the juvenile justice system makes him an excellent resource as you plan your next steps. Call us at 909-894-0812 to set up a consultation with our juvenile defense law firm now.
Stay Calm and Get the Facts
This is where we often see parents explode on their children, demanding an explanation and threatening a long list of consequences. Emotions run high in these situations, but you don’t want to escalate things in front of store management or law enforcement. Find out what happened, which items were involved, who detained your child, and what the next steps are. Generally, a citation is issued or the matter is sent to juvenile court. Store management can temporarily detain someone suspected of theft, but only for a reasonable amount of time. If your child was detained for an inappropriately long time or questioned aggressively, write down what they remember so you can talk to an attorney.
Review the Potential Consequences
Most shoplifting cases are considered petty theft in California. Unless the value of the stolen merchandise is at least $950, the consequences are relatively minor. We say this because even if the consequences are minor when compared to the fallout of a felony, they can still have a serious impact on a child’s future. In these types of cases, possible outcomes include:
- Informal juvenile probation
- Diversion
- Community service
- Restitution
- Theft prevention classes
- Formal probation
- Juvenile detention
Juvenile detention is often parents’ most feared outcome, but it is fairly rare for a first shoplifting offense. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible though, so it’s important to take this seriously.
In addition to the consequences imposed by the court, your child may face other issues if convicted. College admissions, college scholarships, job eligibility, and immigration can all be negatively impacted if your child is convicted.
Don’t Let Your Child Speak to Police Alone
You know that you should never speak to the police without a lawyer present—the same goes for your child. Even a well-meaning officer truly committed to helping an overwhelmed teenager can ask misleading or confusing questions that lead your child to say the wrong thing. Your child has the right to stay silent until you are there. If they are being questioned when you arrive, state that they won’t be answering further questions until your juvenile defense attorney arrives. Anything your child says can be used against them, so limiting what they say is paramount.
Explore Solutions With a Lawyer
There are various solutions that may work for your child’s case, but a lot depends on their specific circumstances and what the evidence says. Your juvenile defense lawyer can walk you through every step of the process and the best options for your child.
They can also help if you receive a civil demand notice from the store in question. This notice orders payment for the items stolen, damaged merchandise, and other costs associated with the theft. Parents often pay this as soon as they receive it, assuming it takes the place of criminal charges. That is not the case. Paying a civil demand letter does not mean that charges won’t be pressed, so it’s important to discuss your options with a lawyer.
Diversion programs are often the most favorable outcome in these cases. They can help your child avoid conviction (and sometimes, they can even avoid charges being filed) with counseling, classes, community service, or other rehabilitative solutions.
Protect Your Child With Milligan Beswick Levine & Knox
Our juvenile defense law firm is here to help you guide your child through this stressful and high-stakes learning experience. Give us a call at 909-894-0812 or reach out online to start building your case now.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.