What is Shoplifting and why do People Shoplift?

Shoplifting Juvenile

Shoplifting refers to a thief involves stealing from a store. Shoplifting is a type of larceny, which simply means taking the property of someone else without their permission, and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property taken.
Shoplifting is a serious crime, It has conquense that involve jail time, probation. People do it because they think they are cool when they do it or they do it to been in a friend group that they think they are good for but they really aren't good for it.

If you get caught shoplifting you can be charged with armed robbery depending on how old you are. Juvenile probation, juvenile probation involves a supervision program ordered by the criminal court which limits the freedom of the minor in question in lieu of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Juvenile detention a juvenile detention center (also known as a juvenile hall) is intended to provide treatment and education rather than punitive measures, but the conditions in juvenile detention centers can be dangerous for minors and worrisome for parents.Prison is a juvenile found guilty of a felony may be eligible for an adult prison facility if the prosecution and judge agree. While juvenile shoplifting hardly warrants such a penalty, in conjunction with other crimes it is entirely possible.

Shoplifting is a type of theft, also known as larceny. Many states divide theft into grand and petty theft (the latter involves stealing something worth less than a specified amount, typically $500 or less). Some states also make shoplifting a distinct crime -- it is petty theft from a retail establishment.When a person under the age of 18 commits a crime, that person is usually not dealt with in the criminal justice system, but rather through the juvenile justice system. The juvenile system has its own courts, judges, prosecutors, and rules. However, the crime of shoplifting is the same for juveniles as it is for adults. The only difference is how a juvenile court handles the case.

Penalties

Because the law does not consider juveniles to have the same ability to make choices as adults, the penalties for juvenile shoplifting are intended to teach and correct rather than punish. Juvenile courts have a very wide latitude in determining the type of penalty that is appropriate in each case. For this reason, juvenile shoplifting penalties can be very different from case to case.
Release to Parents. In minor, first-time cases of shoplifting, a juvenile court may choose to do nothing more than release the juvenile to a parent or guardian's care. In these situations, the court will often give the juvenile a lecture or stern warning about shoplifting and the trouble that can come with further violations.

Restitution. A court can order a juvenile to pay restitution to the property owner for the value of the shoplifted property. If the juvenile has a job, the court may order the juvenile to continue employment until the restitution is paid. If the juvenile is old enough to work but doesn't have a job, the court may order that the juvenile find employment and work to pay off the restitution money.
Probation. A court can also order probation for juveniles convicted of shoplifting. Juvenile probation often lasts about 6 months, though it may last longer depending on the circumstances. Probation terms require the juvenile to take specific actions, such as to stay in school, obey the reasonable orders of parents, guardians, and school officials, and regularly report to a probation officer during the probation period. If the juvenile doesn't comply, the court can impose a more significant penalty.

Diversion. A deferment is similar to probation, though it is less formal. Through a diversion program, a prosecutor agrees to allow a juvenile to enter into a diversion program that has similar terms to probation. The juvenile may, for example, have to participate in an education program, perform community service, maintain a specific grade-point average, or meet other requirements. Diversion programs are typically only available to first-time offenders and allow them a chance to avoid a more formal juvenile court proceeding.

Counseling. A court can order counseling where appropriate. Juvenile counseling may be provided through state services, or the court may order the parents or guardians to find an appropriate individual or family counselor.

Confinement or placement. In serious shoplifting cases, or where the juvenile is a repeat offender, the court may order a juvenile to a juvenile detention facility, weekend detention program, or boot-camp style program. If the court finds that the juvenile's home environment is dangerous or contributing to the juvenile's delinquency, it can also order the juvenile into a foster home or other state facility that cares for neglected or needy children.

Juveniles who have gone through a juvenile court proceeding should investigate to see whether they can seal their juvenile court record. For information on how to do that, see "Expunging or Sealing a Juvenile Court Record," which explains the process.

Talk to a Lawyer

Juvenile shoplifting is not an insignificant charge. Any shoplifting conviction could have a serious impact on the life of a juvenile, as well as the juvenile's family. Whether you have been charged with juvenile shoplifting or you are a parent or guardian of a juvenile who has, you need to talk to a local criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. A local attorney who has experience dealing with juvenile court judges and prosecutors is the only person who can give.

Who shoplifts?

Teens About 24 percent of apprehended shoplifters are teens between 13 and 17 years old.Amateurs make up the largest number, not professional thieves. These are "everyday" people who steal on impulse, because they see an item they greatly desire, or for a thrill. They tend to believe they won't get caught or sent to jail.Most are customers who steal frequently from places where they regularly shop.Some are professional thieves who make their living by stealing and selling goods, but this is a much smaller group than the amateurs.Drug addicts to steal to support their habit.Desperate people steal because they need food - but they make up only a very small number of shoplifters.Kleptomaniacs, a tiny minority of shoplifters who have a mental disorder that makes it difficult to overcome their urge to steal.

Costs for the Individual Teen Who Shoplifts

When salespeople or security officers catch shoplifters, they call the police, who then arrest the suspects and take them to the police station.Children and teens may be released into their parents' custody if it's their first offense.The case may be referred to a juvenile office, which can recommend an appropriate punishment, or sent directly to the juvenile court where a judge decides the penalty.Everyone will find out about the arrest because police or court officers will interview the shoplifter's parents, neighbors, and school while they're writing the report on the crime.If teens are caught shoplifting, their juvenile police records are supposed to be confidential and unavailable to future employers, but sometimes that information does get out.

Costs for Teenagers in General

They are affected by the higher prices caused by shoplifters. A store owner loses money every time an item is stolen and has to raise prices to compensate for that loss. Store owners also have to spend additional money for special security measures, such as security guards and electronic monitoring.There may be fewer jobs available to teens if store owners lose money to shoplifters - owners won't generate enough profit to pay employees.Teens who shoplift may also cause problems for their friends and classmates who want to shop or get jobs. Because some store owners see teens as people who are likely to steal, they may not want teens in their stores.Teen shoplifting puts a strain on relationships between all other teens and store owners. Some stores have policies that restrict the number of teenagers who can enter the store at one time.Some people in the community may hold a negative opinion about teens in general because incidents of teen shoplifting they hear about.

What Happens in Your Community

A neighborhood store closes because the owner loses too much money to shoplifting. (Thirty percent of business failures in the United States are due to shoplifting and employee theft.A store victimized by shoplifting has to lay off employees because revenue is very low.The neighborhood store's customers may have to travel farther to shop after the store closes.If the store stays in business, the owner may raise prices to pay for extra security equipment or guards.

Take Action

If you see anybody in a store take something without paying, report it to a salesperson, security guards, or a cashier. The person is really stealing from you.For a class project, interview the security managers of department stores or malls to find out how much shoplifting costs them. Ask about what they do to prevent it.

Shoplifting (also known as boosting and five-finger discount) is a popular term used for theft of goods from a retail establishment. Shoplifting is typically undertaken by amateurs, and involves concealing an item and leaving the store without paying for it. Other forms of shoplifting include swapping price labels of different items, and eating a store's food without paying for it.

Shoplifting refers to a thief involves stealing from a store. Shoplifting is a type of larceny, which simply means taking the property of someone else without their permission, and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property taken.

Cite this page