How Will Getting Caught Shoplifting Affect Me in the Long Run

My question involves criminal law for the state of: last week i was caught shoplifting a bottle of hollister cologne as a dare so stupid , iknow. my friend was sitting there instigating me idk why i even cared , im 19 years old and im trying to go away to school next year i goto a commuinty college now tho. whats going to happen? should i get a lawyer for $41 ?

You should get a Criminal Defense Lawyer.

For starters, you are looking at a Criminal Charge. Many employers run Criminal Background Checks. And many employers do not want to hire a thief. There are also career fields where it is against the law for you to be hired - such as working with vulnerable adults like the elderly or disabled. The charge alone will make finding work - even minimum wage retail jobs - a challenge. I speak from experience.

You need to ask the lawyer about any first-time offender programs in your area, or a Diversion Program. These mean - you pay your fines, do anything ordered of you (community service, anti-theft class, probation), stay out of trouble, and after a period of time your case is sealed. Get back in trouble, it's not so easy.

You also face:
- Losing any scholarship or financial aid you are getting for college.
- Court costs and fines.
- The store or its lawyers will be sending out a Civil Demand letter. We ask your state for a reason, so we can't give you an accurate figure. Expect $250-1000. Pay up asap or the amount goes up and then they can sue you in court.

All in all, that $41 bottle of cologne will cost you over $2000.

Good question you obviously care about your future,to limit the damage hire a lawyer. I'm pretty sure financial aid wise is only effect by drug charges,one misdemeanor shouldn't affect you. Considering the amount it might be an infraction and not a misdemeanor,sometimes even an infraction might come up in a deep background check,thou an infraction isn't consider a crime. You might be entailed to a legal aide,since it's not a complicated matter that might be a good way to safe $. I mean it's not complicated for a lawyer idk if you'r entailed to a legal aide.

Please use 'textese' where it's apropriate, like when texting.......this sorta activity, on sites like these, is commonly referred to as posting wherein punctuation and grammar and the like should be employed. Jus' sayin'.

That aside, one thing to keep in mind that these sorta charges/convictions are considered crimes of Moral Turpitude in a lot of states and could be looked upon with a bit of disdain by those in your future regardless of the amount and/or circumstance.