What to Expect from a Shoplifting Diversion Program in Michigan

[pgfm]

Well it's a good thing they're much more qualified than you, Mr. Knowitall. It wouldn't make much sense to spend money and put a non-violent, first time offender in the slammer when all they've cost anyone has been paid back tenfold. Save your finger-strength for someone whose actually gonna buy your bull and quit patrolling my thread. With all the crap people get let off the hook for (my neighbors got out of jail-time and they had a meth house!), I'm not really concerned, I just wanted to know the other possible outcomes. Anyone capable of doing research knows my chances of getting time are extremely slim.

And Thanks again, Pandorasbox. I don't think i'd get something that cushy either, but I wasn't really worried about the actual labor, just the amount of time I could get. I could easily knock out 40 hours...not planning on moving for at least 6 months.

[Disagreeable]

It would not take much sense to not use illegal drugs and steal however that seems beyond many people also. Unfortunately, you cannot fix stupid. You can only prosecute it.

[cbg]

One of my best friends suffers from manic depression, so yes, I'm familiar with what can happen.

Funny thing, though; she's never broken the law while she's in a manic state. She's done some pretty strange things, but she's never stolen anything. And if she did, she wouldn't use her illness as an excuse to be exempted from the consequences.

[pgfm]

Well good thing were in agreement about what does and doesn't make sense then! People make mistakes and every person who suffers from a mental illness suffers differently. That's all I really have to say about that.... Unfortunately your friend can't be the spokesperson for every person with md. The fact that me being prosecuted is even a thing we're talking about is kinda off point because it's not likely to happen. There's almost no chance of me not getting diversion. And I'm sorry, but you guys can be the "better people" all you want. Our morals aren't the same. That's cool. That's not what I started this thread to talk about yet it's almost all I'm getting.

[cbg]

At least you acknowledge that we're the better people.

I'm very grateful that I , and most people, have more morals than you. Perhaps if you, and others like you, DID get prosecuted, there'd be less of a mentality of "I can't be punished because...."

[pgfm]

Being a good person in terms of the law is SO different than being a good person period. Youre obviously too dense to see that.if you think smoking pot or petty theft from corporations is so terrible, I really do think you'll have a lot to explain if there's a judgment day that actually matters.

[cbg]

You just keep believing that.

Thou Shall Not Steal is one of the Big Ten, as I recall.

[Dogmatique]

Being a good person in terms of the law is SO different than being a good person period. Youre obviously too dense to see that.if you think smoking pot or petty theft from corporations is so terrible, I really do think you'll have a lot to explain if there's a judgment day that actually matters.

I'll guarantee that if it was your store and you caught an arrogant little punk stealing from you, you'd be the first to cry "PUNISH HIM!".

Good grief child.

[PandorasBox]

I was also caught shoplifting 4.5 years ago. Since I had the Diversion for the Open Container, I did not qualify for it this time.

I had been living with my elderly grandmother, playing CareGiver to her, she was not the sweet little old lady that people associate with the term "Grandmother" - she was emotionally and verbally abusive. I wanted out. BUT....I would have faced charges for Elder Abandonment at that point. However, she always said if I did anything wrong she could kick me out.....not that it excuses what I did, but that is why I did it.

After lawyer, court costs, fines....$2000+. And....4.5 years later, it continues to screw up my job options. I tried for a simple Data Entry job earlier this year, blew them away with the Microsoft Word and Excel testing - guess why they did not hire me? Because of the criminal history. Employers want to know what the original charge was, and the final deposition (Disorderly Person, for me).

Trust me...once you see how much of a mess it makes your life - you hopefully will learn from the experience and not do it again. I am so super cautious when in a store - oops, I went in for 2 items, but found stuff on sale...I'd better go get a cart, and let the greeter know I am leaving my stuff on a nearby display while I get the cart.

I had a trip to Florida, and guess what - my flip flop broke. I limped into WalMart with a very broken shoe, found a new pair, and limped to the nearest cash register, where I then proceeded to pay and then ask the cashier for scissors so I could wear them out of the store, receipt in hand the whole time.

You bet I do not put anything except my purse in the top of the cart. Nothing can get lost under it. If I buy a jewelry item, I pay at the jewelry counter, no carrying it around with me to the main registers.

[AZDeputyClerk]

Actually, the possibility of jail time is very real-IF you don't do exactly as probation and the Diversion program dictate. I was up in court this morning and the judge issued a bench warrant for a defendant who failed to appear for his hearing. There are judges and probation officers who will throw the book at you if you don't toe the line. Cost isn't a concern-maintaining the authority of the Court is. Also, in many jurisdictions the defendant is required to pay for the costs of the probation and any related incarceration.

Theft from a corporation is no different than theft from a person. You're not only stealing from the business-you're stealing from every customer that patronizes that business.