Retail Theft Consequences in Pennsylvania

[j.sanders]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: PA

Hi, I recently got caught shoplifting from home depot, I took 2 item's and the total came out to 88$. I am a first time offender and I am 22 years old, I was charged with retail theft and conspiracy on my citation for court. What should I expect to happen when I go to court, will they lower my charges since i have never been in trouble with the law?, is it able to get expunged from my record?. Thank you I could really use some good information I have never been through anything like this so I would like to know what I am in for.

[Disagreeable]

so this is the first time you have been caught? You now discover the other side of the issue. Hire a lawyer to represent you and attempt to obtain diversion. Be prepared to pay the civil demand which will run in the hundreds of dollars. If you are granted diversion and complete it successfully, the only record left should be of the arrest. Since it was a conspiracy, you really need that lawyer.

[Security Consultant]

In Pennsylvania you can get some minor convictions expunged, but the wait is 5 yrs. from the date of conviction. If you want the charge lowered you will need an attorney to represent you in court.

[PandorasBox]

You will want a lawyer in your area. The reason we tell you this is because every jurisdiction is different. The local lawyer will know not only your rights, and your state and county laws, but will know how the various prosecutors and judges may tend to rule, what kind of punishments....is Judge A more harsh than Judge B? Or is Judge A more for 2nd chances?

Ask for a First Time Offenders program.

An anti-shoplifting class is not a bad idea. $88 reflects that you have stolen before and just simply not got caught.