Education Program for Shoplifting

[Scared4Life]

okay so a few weeks ago i got busted for shoplifting and was arrested. for the past few weeks i have been freaking outta my mind not knowing what to do or who to talk to. I have talked to a few lawyers and they all said they can try to get this down to an infraction. The item i stole was only $49. One lawyer i talked to said he can even try to get it down to disturbing the peace and all i would have is to pay a fine. I also asked him if there were any diversion programs available that i can do since this was my first offense, he said no the state of california doesnt have anything like that. Wow..well that lawyer was charging me like $3500. I dont have that kind of money. I am full-time college student. So i had some good news. I got a letter over my holiday weekend. Its says that i am eligilbe to take this educational program, that they would give me 3 months to complete, it cost $400 and includes a workbook and video, plus i have to do community service, so if i complete everything by 3 months this whole case will get dissmissed from my record and i will owe no other fee to the courts. Wow am I lucky or what. It has been like almost 3 weeks since the incident happened and when i got caught the Loss Prevention guy had me signed a civil demand paper, and he said that the store would send me a letter in a few days , i havent got any letter or anything from them yet. Do you think there gonna make me pay still? how long should i wait for a letter from them or should i call them?

[Happy Trails]

okay so a few weeks ago i got busted for shoplifting and was arrested. for the past few weeks i have been freaking outta my mind not knowing what to do or who to talk to. I have talked to a few lawyers and they all said they can try to get this down to an infraction. The item i stole was only $49. One lawyer i talked to said he can even try to get it down to disturbing the peace and all i would have is to pay a fine. I also asked him if there were any diversion programs available that i can do since this was my first offense, he said no the state of california doesnt have anything like that. Wow..well that lawyer was charging me like $3500. I dont have that kind of money. I am full-time college student. So i had some good news. I got a letter over my holiday weekend. Its says that i am eligilbe to take this educational program, that they would give me 3 months to complete, it cost $400 and includes a workbook and video, plus i have to do community service, so if i complete everything by 3 months this whole case will get dissmissed from my record and i will owe no other fee to the courts. Wow am I lucky or what. It has been like almost 3 weeks since the incident happened and when i got caught the Loss Prevention guy had me signed a civil demand paper, and he said that the store would send me a letter in a few days , i havent got any letter or anything from them yet. Do you think there gonna make me pay still? how long should i wait for a letter from them or should i call them?

Yes, I do, the civil demand fine has nothing to do with the criminal prosecution.

Related threads:

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10028
http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2546
http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11204

[anna marie]

Yes, they should still charge you civil demand.
Depending on your age and what you took is what they do.
Lucky you to get away with that education thing though.
How much community service? and which kind?

[aaron]

I wouldn't suggest calling the store to ask for a civil demand. The store will either send one, or it will fall through the cracks. Three weeks isn't very long to wait for the receipt of a civil demand.