Shoplifting at Kohls in New Jersey

Hi, i am 17 years old and i was just recently caught shoplifting at a Kohls department store with $20 of merchandise. The LPs came and brought me to their room in the back. I sat there and i was with my friend who was 18 years old, and they made us sign these papers i had to sign one admittting i did leave w/o intention of paying and my friend had to sign two the one i signed and then a (tresspass) i think. They did not call the police and they took a picture of him, i do not remember them taking a picture of me, they might have though. They took down our license numbers adress phone numbers, etc. Then they let us leave and said we are not allowed in the store or any other Kohls. My friend was allowed to sign me out and my parents didn't need to be notified. Ive heard that they woill send me a letter making me pay some amount below $1000. I would like to involve my parents as less as possible. I was wondering if this will go on any record, i am planning to appy for work soon, will i need to put that i have been convicted of a crime? And will this ever be cleaned off my slate if it is on my record anywhere. This was an ugly incedent and i am very stupid for having done it, i would like to put it all behind me, any help would be much apperciated thank you.

Also, I have recently just been admitted to college and will be starting my first semester in fall of this year. Will the college see that this has happened? I have also heard that FAFSA and the financial aid services might be notified is there truth to this claim? I would really like this really dumb moment of my life erased from existence, is there any way I could clean my record of it, by writing apology letters, anything?
Also, my friend would like to know if any thing different would happen to him seeing that he is 18, would there be any other reprucussions.

If Police were not called then Civil Demand is your only concern and they only record is one at store and any retail database they may have entered your name in

What exactly comes in the civil demand letter, does it actually explain the incident or is it just a fine and have written the amount that must be paid. Also, would this civil demand letter be sent by the department store itself, or by a law office. They said that i was not allowed back into the store without being accompanied by a guardian, does that mean after i become an adult also?

The Civil Demand letter will come from a law Frim or Civil Recovery service. It can be worded in many ways but its basically a demand for money in accordance with state law. It might mention date but and call it an incident but not much else

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Quoting scaredstraight

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Hi, i am 17 years old and i was just recently caught shoplifting at a Kohls department store with $20 of merchandise. The LPs came and brought me to their room in the back. I sat there and i was with my friend who was 18 years old, and they made us sign these papers i had to sign one admittting i did leave w/o intention of paying and my friend had to sign two the one i signed and then a (tresspass) i think. They did not call the police and they took a picture of him, i do not remember them taking a picture of me, they might have though. They took down our license numbers adress phone numbers, etc. Then they let us leave and said we are not allowed in the store or any other Kohls. My friend was allowed to sign me out and my parents didn't need to be notified. Ive heard that they woill send me a letter making me pay some amount below $1000. I would like to involve my parents as less as possible. I was wondering if this will go on any record, i am planning to appy for work soon, will i need to put that i have been convicted of a crime? And will this ever be cleaned off my slate if it is on my record anywhere. This was an ugly incedent and i am very stupid for having done it, i would like to put it all behind me, any help would be much apperciated thank you.

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Listen, me and my friend got into a similiar situation at JC Penny, actually exactly the same situation. LP got us and brought us in the room.

They make you sign those papers. You should not sign them. I didn't know that at the time. I don't think they can force you to sign them. Either way, when they send you the letter if the amount is less than $500 you should probably ignore it. I was told in the letter to pay $250. When I asked my lawyer he said don't pay that because there is NO WAY they are going to sue you for an amount that low, it's just not worth their time.

I had to pay $1500 for a lawyer but he got the case dismissed and I don't have a record.

Do not listen to Sam if you fail to pay Civil demand they can triple the amount. They can also take you to court if they wish and garnish wages, put negative in your credit report. Its all legal.

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Quoting scaredstraight

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What exactly comes in the civil demand letter, does it actually explain the incident or is it just a fine and have written the amount that must be paid. Also, would this civil demand letter be sent by the department store itself, or by a law office. They said that i was not allowed back into the store without being accompanied by a guardian, does that mean after i become an adult also?

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Here is how mine was worded:

" Dear So and SO:

This law firm represents JCPENNEY (or whatever store you stole from can go here) concerning it's claim against you in connection with the incident in their store #0000 on 01/01/07. You have failed to make payment after written demand to do so.

Pursuant to the Retail Theft Statute Section 720 ILCS 5/16A-7, Illinois Statutes JCPenney may now proceed with litigation against you."


In other words whoever opens the letter will know what you did. Be sure to get the mail before anyone. Also they might keep sending new letters every few weeks good luck!

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Quoting panther10758

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Do not listen to Sam if you fail to pay Civil demand they can triple the amount. They can also take you to court if they wish and garnish wages, put negative in your credit report. Its all legal.

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Well that is what my lawyer said. Are you a lawyer?

When I first went to him I didn't even know I was going to get a letter. When I explained my case he told me, "you are probably going to get a letter in the mail asking for money, don't pay it".

He is a very experienced criminal defense attorney and actually he is so good he had my case dismissed by the judge. Just so you know they had everything on tape so the evidence was against us but i won anyway.

I know what I am saying if you got lucky great. However don't let your luck be others downfall! by the way the $1500.00 you piad is about triple what you would have paid if you had just cuut deal with Da yourself.

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Quoting panther10758

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I know what I am saying if you got lucky great. However don't let your luck be others downfall! by the way the $1500.00 you piad is about triple what you would have paid if you had just cuut deal with Da yourself.

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Okay true, but I have no record and my arrest is expundgeable immediately. If I cut a deal with them to save $1000 bucks then I might not have that luxury, plus I might be stuck with community service or some other BS. I walked out a free man.

Your record was not expunged! You have to have a conviction to get expunged. What you got was diversion and that should have carried community service fines etc. You might go check an dmake sure your no tin trouble. On the other note Civil Demand and court are seperate issues donot confuse them as being related.

I recieved a letter from KOHL'S civil relief center, it states..
"This is to advise you that Kohl's will have no alternative but to consider further civil action, which may include seeking attorney fees and costs against you in the event that the above total is not paid."

If you're guilty you have to pay. Thats that.

ok so it has been a month and two weeks since the incident, i was wondering how i could get into contact with the law firm of kohl's (should i call kohl's and aak them for the number of the firm?) to ask them if they are giving me a civil demand because it has been such a long wait. What is the latest you have heard of someone getting a civil demand letter in the mail?

Call Kohl's ask for Lp then ask them for the name and number of their Civil recovery service

were you given some answers as to how long you will have to wait?
the man who wrote me up told me i would be recieving a civil demand within a week and it has been four business days past a week.

should i be concerned that something when wrong or should i be expecting it any minute? does anyone know how long it normally takes? i feel like over a month is too long!!!