Duane Reade Shoplifting

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York

Hey everyone. Like many people before me, I am here to tell about my situation because I have shoplifted and I have a lot of questions to ask.

Around 8AM, I was going into Duane Reade to buy some gum; I shoplifted a piece of Juicyfruit. That's the first thing.

Just 5 hours ago, I walked into a Duane Reade store with the intent to buy food for myself. (I was really hungry that day) I was searching through my pockets for money and I realized I had a Target bag. It was a stupid and reckless thought; I decided that I was going to put in the Tostitos chips and sauce in the bag with them thinking it came from my previous purchase from Target. I decided to buy a bag of Cheetos so it wouldn't be too obvious. Just moments I left the store, I was halted by a tall man who told me to go back inside. I confessed that I shoplifted on the spot but he took me to the "Employees Only" section and searched my bag. Not only did he discover the stuff I just stole, but the earlier case of Juicyfruit (I recklessly left the wrapper in there)

He told me to sit down, and had my hands handcuffed to the back. I fully cooperated with everything - I gave him my school ID when he asked for identification, I admitted to having shoplifted twice that day, apologized for the infractions I caused knowing that nothing would change, gave him my parents' phone numbers; all without resistance while being formal as possible. He asked me stuff like:

"Are you 17?"
"Yes, sir."

"Do you know your parents are doing this?"
"No, sir."

"What do you think your parents will say when they find out?"
"Sir, I would be severely punished and they would be upset."
"Yes... you should be severely punished." (along those lines)

Eventually, we got to the point that he was going to call my father (since I told him my mother was in Connecticut during work) so he decided to unlock me from the handcuffs. I tried to not make things a hassle by pulling up my jacket when it was in the way. He made me walk to another room which contained a telephone. I called my father using the number I gave him, and fortunately, my dad's "please leave a message" voice popped up. He hung up the phone, and told me that he was going to release me (instead of having my parents pick me up, which he intended to do) but he was going to send a mail home that required a fine (about 75$). I asked him whether I was still going to court, and he said that as long as I paid the fine, there would be no court action. I shook his hand and left the store, knowing that he had cut a lot of slack for me (I think)

I'm here to ask about the following;

Prior to calling my father, he made me sign three papers. I didn't get a full look at them because I was still under panic and I wanted to cooperate as much as possible. The quick glances I saw were "trespass", "loss prevention" but I don't know what this could mean.

Questions:

In this case, is shoplifting considered a criminal case? Do I need a lawyer?
Am I still going to court?
I'm applying to colleges at the current moment, and I just happened to commit this at the right time. Will college interviews pull up your juvenile record?
How bad can shoplifting affect your chances at getting a job?

Thank you and have a nice day.

How old are you?

Seventeen.

A civil demand letter will come in the mail and you must pay it as soon as possible. If you don't, the store will sue you and the store will force you to pay more out of your own pocket.

The store has a year to file criminal charges.
Don't work in retail or anything that involves money.
I'm not sure if colleges will bring this up because I didn't face an interview. I filled out the papers and they accepted me.

And the "trespass" that you brought up:

You are banned from that store and it's other locations as well. If you go to that store, or any of its locations, you can be charged with Criminal Trespass.

We don't know if the ban is a year or for life...if you have to go back to one, I'd write their corporate office first (assuming it's a chain)

Well, after two months of waiting, I got the Civil Demand letter. Here's what it said:

Quote:

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Dear Parent/ Guardian of (removed),

Please be advised that The Law Offices of Michael Ira Asen, P.C. is the counsel for Duane Reade in this matter. On 1/9/2010, the above named minor was detained for a shoplifting incident at Duane Reade.
Under New York General Obligations Law 11-105, Duane Reade has a civil claim against you because the above named minor intentionally deprived Duane Reade of merchandise without paying for it. This claim is separate from, and in addition to, any criminal action arising from this incident. You may be held liable for the cost of the merchandise; the costs associated with loss prevention expenses and/or a civil penalty.

This letter is a demand that you pay $75.00 in satisfaction of this civil claim. This is not an attempt to collect a debt.

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After receiving the letter, I called the Duane Reade where I shoplifted at and asked them if I paid the civil demand, would I still go to court? They avoided the question and said I was banned from Duane Reade for 7 years. They also mentioned something about how I was on some database and the ban and my infraction would be removed after 7 years.

The questions are;

After I pay this Civil Demand, would the nightmare be over? Would I still go to court since I am 17?
What is this retail database they told me about?
What is a "civil claim"?
What does this line mean -- "You may be held liable for the cost of the merchandise; the costs associated with loss prevention expenses and/or a civil penalty."

Quote:

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Quoting DarkestExes

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Well, after two months of waiting, I got the Civil Demand letter. Here's what it said:



After receiving the letter, I called the Duane Reade where I shoplifted at and asked them if I paid the civil demand, would I still go to court? They avoided the question and said I was banned from Duane Reade for 7 years. They also mentioned something about how I was on some database and the ban and my infraction would be removed after 7 years.

The questions are;

After I pay this Civil Demand, would the nightmare be over? Would I still go to court since I am 17?
What is this retail database they told me about?
What is a "civil claim"?
What does this line mean -- "You may be held liable for the cost of the merchandise; the costs associated with loss prevention expenses and/or a civil penalty."

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Well, they have a year to file criminal charges.
If you pay the fine, then the store won't file additional criminal charges against you. The retail database? OH! You mean the National Retail Theft Database. Ouch! The last question has an answer. That's the civil demand part and like I mentioned earlier, just pay it.

I went to the NRMA website and it said this:

"No, the NRMA Retail Advisory Board unanimously voted to not include incidents in which the person was under the age of 18 when the theft incident occurred."

They are still legally able to keep you within their own database.

So does that mean I can try for employment at another retail store?