Shoplifting in California

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

Two days ago, I went to a retail store and brought a pair of shoes. Before leaving the store, I put another pair of shoes(worth $20.00) into my shopping bag without paying it. By the entrance of the retail store, I was caught by a undercover police (which I thought because he showed me a badge) and a police officer. They took me up stair to a room with two other people (which I believed they were the worker of the store) and one another police officer (while they taking me to the room, the undercover police office ask me did I know why I got caught and I said yes). They asked me to show them my purse. Then they search my whole purse include my wallet and my cosmetic bag. They asked me to give them my ID and also asked me to write down my name, address, date of birth, social security number, and my phone number in a note book.

After this, they asked me to sign three papers with same notice, which is about they will send me a bill in between $50 to $500 within the next 30 days (I think they were same, but I could not remember because my brain was blank for that whole time). After I signed that three papers, they gave me a notice which is call "Civil Demand Customer Notice". They also wrote down my information in another form, which look like a government form (because it seems with a kind of government logo and with a white copy on top and a pink copy on the bottom). But they did not have me to sign that form. With this whole process, the police officer was with me. After this, they told me that I could not go to that store any more within California. Then they let me go.

This is my first shoplifting and I am sure it will be the last. For now, I am so regret for what I did and also so nervous about this. Do I need to go to court because I was caught by two police officers? Will I go to jail? Should I call for a lawyer now? If I need to go to court, do I need to guilty because I already said I knew why I were caught? Will I have record for this? If yes, can the record be erase? Will my employer know what I did?

I had under a lot of pressure since I went to college. Started by that time, I had been always thinking that I want to take stuff from store but did not put it in action until two days ago. I don't know if this is a mental problem or not. I am super scared now even thinking to kill myself. Could anyone tell me what to do now? Please. :(

How old are you ?

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I am super scared now even thinking to kill myself

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Stop thinking that right now . . . it's a permanent solution
to a temporary, and in the grand scheme of things a relatively
minor problem

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they will send me a bill in between $50 to $500 within the next 30 days (I think they were same, but I could not remember because my brain was blank for that whole time). After I signed that three papers, they gave me a notice which is call "Civil Demand Customer Notice".

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The civil demand can be for up to $500, usually half

Pay it, or make arrangements to pay

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Do I need to go to court because I was caught by two police officers?

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Were you given a citation with a court date? They sometimes
mail them

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Will I go to jail?

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No

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Should I call for a lawyer now?

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Not just yet

Wait until you see if you have a court date or not

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If I need to go to court, do I need to guilty because I already said I knew why I were caught?

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Don't worry about court until you have to!

You can plead Not Guilty if you so desire

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Will I have record for this?

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Unknown . . if no court date, no record

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Will my employer know what I did?

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Only if you them them

Sounds like you may have caught a break on this with your
only penalty being the payment of the civil demand

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Quoting PJ Weber

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How old are you ?

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I am 27. Would that be different punishment on different age?

.Fines less than $500.00
.Community service
.Probation


Are norm

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Quoting PJ Weber

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Sounds like you may have caught a break on this with your
only penalty being the payment of the civil demand

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What is this mean?

It means the retailer appears to only seek a criminal solution not a criminal one

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Quoting panther10758

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It means the retailer appears to only seek a criminal solution not a criminal one

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So what you mean is they might not charge me as a criminal case? Still bit confuse.

I also asked someone, they said Ross (the retail store that I were caught by) will bring all shoplifting case to the court? Is that true?

Also, I saw posts in this forums are mention about the Diversion Programs. What is this?

Until you actually are charged and have a court date you need not worry about that

First of all, thank you very much for all people that had replied on my post.

According to what happened to me on my first post, now I had just received my Civil Demand charge for $4xx.xx. I know I have to pay this for sure,

However, I still have question for this. Will I still getting a citation (or court date to go to court)? And how long does it takes if a court date will mail to me? I am still not sure if they will or will not sue me or ask me to go to court. Can anyone help? Thanks