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  1. #1
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    Mar 2016
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    Default Do You Need a Lawyer to Try to Get Into a First Offender's Program for Shoplifting

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina

    I am a 20year old college student who was caught shoplifting, I know stupid and embarrassing. This is my first offense, I've literally never been in trouble before. The merchandise was worth $161. The police officer told me about the first offenders program. My questions are 1. Do I need a lawyer? ( I don't have the money for one and am I hoping I won't ) 2. Because I know I did the crime should I plea guilty and if so am I still able to ask the judge to do the program? 3. Is the charge on my record already or does it go on after court? Please get back to me, I'm freaking out!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    1,421

    Default Re: 20 Year Old Caught Shoplifting

    What do you want to be when you grow up? And yes you should get a lawyer.

  3. #3
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    Mar 2016
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    Default Re: 20 Year Old Caught Shoplifting

    Quote Quoting Ohiogal
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    What do you want to be when you grow up? And yes you should get a lawyer.
    A social worker and thank you for responding

  4. #4
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    Jul 2006
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    Default Re: 20 Year Old Caught Shoplifting

    You may have issues if you plead guilty and want to be a social worker as social workers are supposed to be upstanding individuals with no criminal history. you NEED counsel.

  5. #5
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    Mar 2016
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    Default Re: 20 Year Old Caught Shoplifting

    Quote Quoting Amber0034
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    My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina

    I am a 20year old college student who was caught shoplifting, I know stupid and embarrassing. This is my first offense, I've literally never been in trouble before. The merchandise was worth $161. The police officer told me about the first offenders program. My questions are 1. Do I need a lawyer? ( I don't have the money for one and am I hoping I won't ) 2. Because I know I did the crime should I plea guilty and if so am I still able to ask the judge to do the program? 3. Is the charge on my record already or does it go on after court? Please get back to me, I'm freaking out!
    I would talk to a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, you may have to ask for a pubic defender. But some lawyers offer free consultations.

    This is what the North Carolina Social Work and Licensure Board website states for qualifications and about criminal backgrounds: http://www.ncswboard.org/page/certification-licensure

    "Applicants with prior criminal history should be prepared to submit with their application, a certified copy of court records related to any and all criminal history; AND a cover letter of explanation and impact of the/those events on the social worker both personally and professionally."

    I did find this: http://hub.unlock.org.uk/knowledgebase/social-worker/

    "A criminal record does not automatically bar you from working with young people and vulnerable adults, even if it involved violence. You are required to declare all your cautions and convictions, even if they are spent, unless they are eligible for filtering."

    "The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, which allows some convictions to become spent after a fixed period, does not apply. The law expects prospective social workers to declare convictions even if they are spent (unless they are protected by the filtering regime). The HCPC will then examine the disclosed information case by case, assessing how this affects your suitability to be a social worker or social work student."

    I know it does not seem an official page but it seemed like helpful information. I have heard of recovering addicts who are social workers but I guess it depends on the situation.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
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    441

    Default Re: 20 Year Old Caught Shoplifting

    Show up to court. Ask about the first offenders program and what the ramifications of it will be (i.e., will the charge end up totally dismissed or will you still have a conviction, etc.) These terms are not a secret. The court and judge will help you understand them.

    If they are not prepared to give you that information or if there is anything you are not sure of, you can always plead "not guilty" at that time and then consult a lawyer or do some more research.

    While I don't disagree with hiring a lawyer and I agree that it is absolutely your right to do so, there absolutely do exist attorneys who will charge you $500 to show up and get you placed in a first offender program that you didn't need a lawyer to get into at all (i.e., in some cases, the judge will tell you up front you are eligible and what the ramifications of entering it will be.)

    Quite frankly, if they are giving you any type of deal where you pay a fine and get probation, only to have the charge dismissed with no record, I think that you are getting one hell of a deal, and that shelling out $500 for a lawyer isn't likely to get you much better. I'm not saying this is 100% true, but shoplifting cases tend to be among the most "slam dunk" cases there are, so the odds of getting an acquittal are probably much lower than with other offenses.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Do You Need a Lawyer to Try to Get Into a First Offender's Program for Shopliftin

    Quote Quoting Amber0034
    View Post
    1. Do I need a lawyer?
    Maybe. Try starting by seeing if you can get a free consultation
    Quote Quoting Amber0034
    2. Because I know I did the crime should I plea guilty and if so am I still able to ask the judge to do the program?
    You should ask the prosecutor about the program. You should not plead guilty without first talking to a lawyer.
    Quote Quoting Amber0034
    3. Is the charge on my record already or does it go on after court?
    When you're charged with a crime, that creates a record of the charge.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    1,419

    Default Re: Do You Need a Lawyer to Try to Get Into a First Offender's Program for Shopliftin

    Plead not guilty and ask for a public defender,ask them about any diversion programs.

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