Caught Shoplifting But Not Arrested

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Massachusetts. I got caught shoplifting under 250 at walmart. Not arrested.. help

help what? are you being charged with the crime? If not, wait as it can still happen. If you are, what kind of help are you looking for? A lawyer would be your best source for help.

Here are a few possible things that can happen:
1) They will keep this incident in file (usually in the stores' own computers and/or the National Retail Theft Database)
2) They will send the file to the DA and he/she will file criminal charges

Note: You may be filed a civil charge, an ordinance violation, instead of a misdemeanor criminal charge. Being convicted of this ordinance violation WILL NOT give you a criminal record but will instead be concluded with you paying fines and possible probation. The civil charge is only for petty offenses and first-time offenders.

3) They will send you a Civil Demand demanding $100-x (x being the limitations of you state; look it up)

Note: Some lawyers have advised people not to pay these demands because most of the time, they are out of state and many law firms do this as a scare tactic to scare people into paying. I, personally, have had these letters sent to me before... my attorney advised me not to pay and nothing came out of it after my lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter back to the regarding law firm.

4. They may just ignore it all.

This is all from personal experience. Yes, I was given an ordinance violation and WAS NOT fingerprinted nor was my picture taken at the police station. If you want more specific information though, I would highly consider talking to a local attorney instead of coming onto this forum. Some people on this forum may be ex-loss prevention members and may fool you into doing something you otherwise shouldn't do. Don't take my word for it, take a REAL lawyer's advice.

Oh, and if you were concerned about having an ordinance violation show up, it won't show up for ordinary background checks. I got a job as a Pharmacist Assistant getting paid $12.50/hr currently and it took a week for the background check results to come in. Nothing showed up. But, I'm not so sure about hospital and security clearance background checks.

I hope this all helped you. :)