Shoplifting Charges Without Police Involvement

[Stupidmistake]

My best friend was stopped by the department store security. She was 19 at that time. She wasn't arrested and the police didn't show up. However, her picture was taken and she had to write a letter explaining her wrongfull act. Couple of days after this inncident she received a letter from that store and she paid for every charges and things she had stolen.

Will it appear on her record on it will stay with the store documents?
Should she mention this when applying for a job?
Is this thing something she could erase from the record forever?

[aaron]

Will it appear on her record on it will stay with the store documents?

On what record? If there was no police involvement, no police report, no arrest, and no prosecution, the only record would appear to be the store record.

Should she mention this when applying for a job?

If she is required by law to disclose the incident, she should obey the law.

Is this thing something she could erase from the record forever?

From what you have said, there is only a store record. She can't erase the store's record, but it has little significance outside of that store (or its parent company).

[Stupidmistake]

Thanks a lot Arron... Are you sure they didn't fill the police report after she left? All they said to her was "...if you're going to cooperate with us you won't go to jail" so she obeyed to everything they said. However, they took her picture and wrote down her social along with the driver license number. Could the store security turn this into a criminal report against my friend after all?

I really appreciate your response

[aaron]

Are you sure they didn't fill the police report after she left?

Unfortunately, the only way I could answer that is if I had psychic powers. There is a possibility that a police report was filed.

[Stupidmistake]

Is there any way we can check about it? Should we contact the store or is it better to ask the police whether the report was filled or not?

Thanks a lot. You've been big help.

[aaron]

I would leave the store out of it - if they're a sleeping dog, let them lie. You don't want to inspire them to act to your friend's detriment.

You may be able to find out if a police report has been filed, if your friend requests for any police reports involving her under your state's FOIA laws. If the report may have been made to more than one police agency (e.g., local police or County Sheriff), it will typically be necessary to file requests with both agencies. However, some states have very limited FOIA remedies, and even in the other states it may not be possible to obtain a police report under FOIA if an investigation remains open.