Then when you go to court request a Public defender. The judge will then tell you how to proceed and give you new court date
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Then when you go to court request a Public defender. The judge will then tell you how to proceed and give you new court date
Your question is how do they decide whether or not they will send you a civil demand letter?
They probable give the notice that they gave you, to everyone they stop for shoplifting, regardless if they call the police or NOT.
Then they send your info to another company like a
Law firm/Collection Agency. There may be different state laws and/or store company rules that may regulate who end up getting a real demand letter.
Like if Kids are stopped (under 16 in some states and under 18 in others), the notice will be sent to the parent. Some cases might not get one, if the dollar amount is too little. Sometimes if the store security forgets to forward your info or the info they forward could have been unreadable, preventing them from sending it.
The store security doesn't really have a say in if you get one or not, they just follow their rules. Matter a fact, they probable didn't even decide to "not" call the police on you. Most stores have strict guidelines on what cases to call the police on and what ones NOT to call on. Your case was only around $35., this might be an amount they are not allowed to call the police on. Which brings back to the idea, you should NOT return more stolen things to the store with a statement you stole them, as then, they may be allowed to call the police on you.
But from what you stated in your story, it seems more then likely, you will end up getting a Civil Demand no matter what.