My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas.
I’m 18 and a female, and I got caught shoplifting foundation that was only $5.99 at Target.
It was my first time to ever take anything without paying for it. I come from a great background, a senior in high school, just got accepted to my dream college with scholarships, very involved in my school, and very talented in dance and singing. The reason why I did it: I was naive. I thought that taking only a simple cheap foundation wasn’t going to hurt me. I was also horrible at shoplifting for it was very noticeable that I took it.
So, here’s what happened: (a little long)
I stuck the foundation in my purse and ripped the barcode off the foundation. I thought that by ripping it off would allow the security alarms to not go off. I paid for everything else I got with a gift card and didn’t have enough money to get the foundation. (I haven’t been getting enough money due to not being able to work at my job). I thought that honestly it wouldn’t be that hard, seeing how many people get away with much worse. However they stopped me before I left the store. That’s when they told me that they had been watching me the whole time and saw me take off the barcode sticker. They told me to follow them into their security room. Keep in mind that there was no police or anything. Just the workers at Target and maybe target security. Once I got in the room, I completely confessed. They asked me for my I.D., however did not make a copy of it but wrote some information down like my identity details and my address. They asked me if I had ever been in trouble with the police, and if I had ever shoplifted before. I told them no for both, which is 100% true.
They asked why I took it, and I told them that I didn’t have enough money since I hadn’t been making enough from my job. They also had another woman in there so that another person of the same gender was in there with me. They asked where I went to school, where I worked, if I was involved in anything at school. I was honest in everything I said. They then told me that they were only going to charge me for the $5.99 foundation, weren’t gonna call the cops, and told me that I’m not allowed to step foot on their property again. They told me that if i were to go to another target, that I would be in their database and on a watch-list. When they were asking me about my school and my activities, it didn’t seem as if they were recording me or recording my information. They had me sign a paper with my signature and took a picture of me. They were incredibly nice to me, and understood how guilty I was. I promised I would never shoplift again (which is 100% true. I learned my lesson) and told me that I looked like such a nice girl and wondered why I couldn’t have just bought the foundation. They told me they would send the paper in the mail to me for me to pay later. They then escorted me out of the building, no police or no handcuffs, and told me that I need to really think about this and have this serve as a life lesson.
So here are my questions:
What does this mean for my future? Does this go against my record, get sent to my school or even my colleges, or even my activities? Will this prevent me from being able to get a job anywhere else? They didn’t make me pay it the bill then and there, they are sending me the bill. Does this mean that this is going to the police and put against my record? Is it possible that they are only sending this to me in the mail because they didn’t think I had enough money to pay it then?
I’m so scared.. I have never done anything wrong before in my life. I am a top student at my school and I’m so afraid that this dumb little mistake will ruin my whole future and even the rest of high school for me. Any input would help.
Thanks.

