What to do if my 11 year old got caught shoplifting $1,200 worth of merchandise?
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What to do if my 11 year old got caught shoplifting $1,200 worth of merchandise?
It was fake jewelry. It happened a month ago but a cop just came because he said that he forgot to give me a ticket. So what’s going to happen? Can he be allowed to forget to give me a ticket?
Asked on December 15, 2012 under Criminal Law, California
Answers:
David West / West & Corvelli
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, in Georgia and many states, a theft of that amount is a felony offense. Most police are not going to look the other way for a eft of that amount. They will likely refer the case to the juvenile court for prosecution and you will receive a notice of this court in the mail. If, however, the store got all of its merchandise back, they may not be inclined to prosecute a child that young. It is often up to the store after they get their stuff back. Still, many stores want to discourage stealing and have a blanket policy of prosecuting all felony thefts. The bigger the store, the more likely that is true.
You should consult with an expert criminal defense lawyer like myself who specializes in juvenile criminal defense cases. We can help you and answer all your questions.
David West
Attorney at Law
David West / David West & Associates
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, in Georgia and many states, a theft of that amount is a felony offense. Most police are not going to look the other way for a eft of that amount. They will likely refer the case to the juvenile court for prosecution and you will receive a notice of this court in the mail. If, however, the store got all of its merchandise back, they may not be inclined to prosecute a child that young. It is often up to the store after they get their stuff back. Still, many stores want to discourage stealing and have a blanket policy of prosecuting all felony thefts. The bigger the store, the more likely that is true.
You should consult with an expert criminal defense lawyer like myself who specializes in juvenile criminal defense cases. We can help you and answer all your questions.
David West
Attorney at Law
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