When Will Getting Caught Stealing Affect Employment

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania

Hi everyone,

A classmate was caught shoplifting at Macy's by loss prevention while she was 18. She says the amount of items totaled 150$. Loss prevention handcuffed her, called the police and told her that he is banned from every macy's in the U.S. for life. The cops showed up but did not arrest her, only searched her car. I tried to look her up on public records but I couldn't find anything about the case. She had to pay a civil demand by macy's and attend a class. Will this affect her employment, and is it possible for ANYONE to find out about this incident?

At the very least, there is an incident report with her name on it at the police department.

Who ordered her to go to this class? that sounds like some sort of diversion program which will show up on some background checks

Arrests almost always show up. Around here even getting a traffic ticket assures that you will start getting post cards from lawyers asking to help you. Your online searches don't tend to look these up though they are available to more extensive checks.

If she was only charged with the summary offense (yellow "ticket") it probably won't show on most checks either. If she got a full up misdemeanor (which may not yet have been delivered to her yet), then you can bet that conviction will be with her for LIFE. Philadelphia has a diversion program (ARD) for misdemeanors which will preclude the conviction. She should talk to a lawyer if she receives any sort of charges.

In addition, the industry has a database of thieves and while the member stores are not publicized, it's quite possible Macy's is a member. You can almost guarantee she'll not get a job in retail for the next seven years with such an entry. She's likely already on it now and there's nothing she can do about it.

If she is charged, she needs to get a lawyer and minimize the damage.

A criminal record affects MANY jobs. For example, she will not be working as a cashier anywhere. She might get a fast food job, but it will not be working the cash register. She won't be working with Vulnerable Populations, such as an Assisted Living Facility. Office - she won't be working near Petty Cash. Basically, anything involving cash or credit cards - she won't be doing. Bank Teller is definitely out.

She wasn't charged, but went through a diversion program. How can someone in the public find out what happened?

If she went through a Diversion program, then she WAS charged. If the record is sealed, certain background checks will still show it (like for a State/Federal job, for example)

Some jurisdictions have diversion programs that occur at the prosecutor's discretion before the charge is authorized, so without more details....

She had to pay a civil demand from macy's and go to a class. The courts were not involved. She said the state police background check didn't show anything. This happened roughly 5 years ago.

Macy's can't send her to a class. She had to have made some kind of deal, probably pre-trial intervention/diversion. That means the courts, or at least a prosecutor, were involved. They don't get involved unless there is at least a police report. If there is a police report, it is possible a background check to could find it. Not all background checks are the same.