Every day in New York, hundreds of people are charged with crimes. Among those, shoplifting will often seem like a minor issue. And when compared to other charges like drug trafficking or racketeering, it is. But shoplifting can still have a very large impact on your life in the short term and the long term, and it’s important to understand the potential consequences of being found guilty of this crime.
Here are just some of the penalties you might face.
- Jail Time – Jail sentences are rare among shoplifting cases, but not unheard of. You could receive as much as one to four years of jail time depending upon the nature of the crime – misdemeanor offenses are usually not penalized with jail time while felony charges could be.
- Fines – Fines are based upon the amount of money the stolen items were worth as well as any profits that might have been made from the stolen items.
- Record – Even more influential is the criminal record that will follow you around for years following a conviction. Shoplifting is theft, and as such it will make it difficult to find employment, secure loans, and more. Today criminal background checks are being used more and more frequently, and having a criminal record will make a big impact on your life.
The specifics of your penalties will vary greatly depending on numerous things. The first is, as mentioned above, what the total value of the stolen items are. Along with this, things like criminal history will have a direct impact on the sentence you face. It’s important that you take the time to consider the potential repercussions in order to fully understand that shoplifting isn’t as small a deal as it might seem at first.
With that in mind, the best step you can take to ensure that you don’t end up with a poor outcome is to find a good criminal defense attorney. A good lawyer will help review the specifics of your case and make it easier for you to understand which steps are the best ones for you to take. Shoplifting may be minor in the grand scheme of things, but it can still have a hugely negative influence on the rest of your life. It’s important to give it the proper amount of attention.