Re: Any Info on What to Expect from a Second Time Shoplifting Offense
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geek
For a repeat offense, you should speak to a criminal defense attorney.
You offer a lot of excuses for your behavior- have you discussed this with your psychiatrist? I would.
First, I'm not excusing anything. An explanation and an excuse are two very different things. I did speak about this issue and my offense 5yrs ago with one psychologist. She actually brought it up and told me that many ppl with my diagnoses have issues with erratic behaviors such as shoplifting, so I told her what I'd done 5yrs ago and how it still made no sense to me why I did it. No, I did not take this as a free pass to do it again. When I walked into this store two days ago I went with the intention of buying a sweater, a present for my daughter. And somehow, I still don't quite understand why, this ended up happening. And it wasn't even the sweater I originally went in for.
Regardless of why or how or whatever my mental health situation, I know I still did it and I will have to make it right and pay for my crime. And regardless of deputydog above, or anyone else who says to stop referring to this as a mistake, that is EXACTLY what I will refer to it as, a mistake. I plan on bringing it up to my current psychiatrist what happened, my history with it, and seek any additional help I need. But NONE of us are free from sin. All of us at some time in our lives, have made a wrong choice, a bad decision, done something we severely regret, in other words...a MISTAKE. Some mistakes are worse than others that's the only difference.
A pattern I tend to see in the replies on a lot of these posts and threads is a lot of rudeness and just outright MEAN responses. How about showing a little human decency and just kindly responding if one actually has a helpful answer or advice they can give?? A little kindness goes a long way, and it's completely free it costs nothing.
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geek
For a repeat offense, you should speak to a criminal defense attorney.
You offer a lot of excuses for your behavior- have you discussed this with your psychiatrist? I would.
And also yes, I have an appt to speak with an attorney in a couple days. I'm hoping he can give me some kind of insight, but most that I've spoken to so far, other than one very kind attorney, seems to not want to be helpful at all in any way until you tell them you're able to afford their fee. Even though they promote that they offer 'free consultation!' They're really not interested in consulting until they hear from you that you've got money. So I'm going into my consult with low expectations and telling myself I'll have to wait for my court appointed attorney to get any real answers.
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Disagreeable
Volunteer at a library. You will not have time for theft urges.
Well I appreciate your honest recommendation. I do plan on filling my time and doing whatever it takes, and making whatever changes in my life necessary to make sure I never do anything like this again. Thank you.
Re: Any Info on Possible Outcome of Second Shoplifting Offense
Lose the attitude. You are the one being rude. This forum really wants exactly one thread on each subject.
Re: Any Info on What to Expect from a Second Time Shoplifting Offense
A few observations; you are, in point of fact, a serial criminal. This is your second offense for the same crime. How many acts does it take to be a serial or repeat offender?
To call it a mistake, in the context that you are using it, is to minimize the seriousness and your own culpability. Would it have still been a mistake if you hadn't been caught? As tothe definition, I'm sure that the folks here, myself included, know what that word means.
Not to get too personal but, speaking as someone who has suffered with mental illness their whole life, I hate when it's used as an excuse. If your schizophrenic or you suffer from an affliction of a similar nature then I'll cut you some slack, but if it's bipolar then take some responsibility for your actions! You note that your mental illness is yours to overcome, well the first step is to take responsibility for your actions.
You asked if you love your children? That is completely irrelevant to the subject at hand. Also, why on earth would you want to spend a night in jail, who would want to? It's not supposed to be appealing, it's a consequence of criminal acts.
As to how people seem here, you were provided information for free. You didn't like the responses and chose to attack the advisors. As to how you would look walking down the street, I've hung out with bank robbers, drug dealers and murderes (all outside of prison) and didn't know it. We don't brand people for their acts, otherwise you could be missing a hand of just have the letter T branded into your thumb.
Go forth and sin no more.
Re: Any Info on What to Expect from a Second Time Shoplifting Offense
To the OP: I work in the mental health field. Most of the patients I see do not have shoplifting issues. (Some of them do). What I would recommend is that you speak to your doctor and therapist about impulse control. If your behavior is "erratic" like you said, and your behavior on occasion causes you to take something that is not yours, I would address this with the doctor. These "erratic" issues can cause you to not be a good parent to say the least. I mean, if you "make mistakes" in this area, your ability to parent is probably compromised.
Re: Any Info on Possible Outcome of Second Shoplifting Offense
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flyingron
Lose the attitude. You are the one being rude. This forum really wants exactly one thread on each subject.
I had no attitude, I'm not an expert on these forums I'm pretty inexperienced at it. I rewrote my post and added paragraphs and reposted, I didn't realize that was frowned upon.
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[QUOTE=Mark47n;924835]A few observations; you are, in point of fact, a serial criminal. This is your second offense for the same crime. How many acts does it take to be a serial or repeat offender?
To call it a mistake, in the context that you are using it, is to minimize the seriousness and your own culpability. Would it have still been a mistake if you hadn't been caught? As tothe definition, I'm sure that the folks here, myself included, know what that word means.
Not to get too personal but, speaking as someone who has suffered with mental illness their whole life, I hate when it's used as an excuse. If your schizophrenic or you suffer from an affliction of a similar nature then I'll cut you some slack, but if it's bipolar then take some responsibility for your actions! You note that your mental illness is yours to overcome, well the first step is to take responsibility for your actions.
You asked if you love your children? That is completely irrelevant to the subject at hand. Also, why on earth would you want to spend a night in jail, who would want to? It's not supposed to be appealing, it's a consequence of criminal acts.
As to how people seem here, you were provided information for free. You didn't like the responses and chose to attack the advisors. As to how you would look walking down the street, I've hung out with bank robbers, drug dealers and murderes (all outside of prison) and didn't know it. We don't brand people for their acts, otherwise you could be missing a hand of just have the letter T branded into your thumb.
You can have whatever opinion you choose, when I say I'm not a serial criminal, I'm referring to my life in that I'm not one who has spent my life in trouble with the law. These two very stupid decisions I made in my lifetime do not define me or who I am. As to my mental health issues, I AM taking action. I visited my therapist today and told him what happened and spent two hours trying to understand myself why I let this happen.
To put me anywhere near the classification of a bank robber or murderer is ridiculous. But like my counselor told me today, trolls live on the Internet and feed off of trying to take away others self worth.
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Nursekd
To the OP: I work in the mental health field. Most of the patients I see do not have shoplifting issues. (Some of them do). What I would recommend is that you speak to your doctor and therapist about impulse control. If your behavior is "erratic" like you said, and your behavior on occasion causes you to take something that is not yours, I would address this with the doctor. These "erratic" issues can cause you to not be a good parent to say the least. I mean, if you "make mistakes" in this area, your ability to parent is probably compromised.
Call it 'agree to disagree' but not for one minute am I trying to take away from the seriousness of what I did. It was wrong and I will pay for it and make it right. You know NOTHING about what type of parent I am and anyone who thinks they can judge that about someone because of one stupid thing they've done that they posted on the Internet looking for advice, has issues of their own.
I thought these forums were for advice, knowledge and information which is the only reason I used it. So far all I've seen, and not only on my post but many others is judgement and unkindness and, some more judgment. Rate any actual 'expert' advice is actually given on here I'm seeing that now.
Re: Any Info on Possible Outcome of Second Shoplifting Offense
You came in ranting and raving, borderline hysterical and on the defensive. You got advice, you were told to speak to a criminal defense attorney. Nobody here has a crystal ball and can tell you if you'll spend time in jail or not. Gird yourself for the possibility. Stealing is criminal behavior.
And again, speak to your doctor about your compulsions. There may actually be help available for you.
Re: Any Info on Possible Outcome of Second Shoplifting Offense
It all depends,one place might just give you probation and/or a fine,somewhere else since it's your 2nd time they might give you a short jail term. I think if this is only a misdemeanor,if I had to guess,you could probably get probation. It's not certain ,the 3rd time they are throwing you in jail. I would call some local lawyer,they can make a reasonable guess on the penalty.