Shoplifting in New Jersey

[whathappensnow1]

I am 18 and about two weeks ago, I was caught shoplifting at a kohls, on video I think. I went out of the store and then two ladies in plain clothes came to me and escorted me back to the store. I had 24$ of stuff on me, which they took (it was not damaged). I tried to gave them a fake story about what happened and they ofcourse did not buy it, so one of the ladies said she was going to call the cops, and i confessed everything. I do notknow of the cops were called, if they were they may have gotten there after I was released. After I confessed, they searched my purse, photocopied my DL, took down my SSN, contact info etc. They asked me how much money I had, and I had 20$cash and a credit card. The lady said this would go on my perm record and that I was going to get something in the mail in 10days which would have a fine from 175-1000$. I asked the lady if she could give me a more narrower range and she said the judge would decide on that and it would depend on the report that she wrote up about me. She didn't say if criminal charges were going to be pressed but when I was in custody the cops were not there. The lady also took a pic of me and the merchandice. Then she made me sign a tresspassing paper, and two other papers that I did not get a chance to read over, but I know both of them had info on what i stole and the $ value of it. After all this, one of the ladies and another person from the store escorted me out of the store. Oh, and she gave me part of one of the papers I signed which was the trespassing paper and said that the store could press charges against me if they wanted to.

I was wondeirng if anyone can tell me what is going to happen. The lady mentioned a judge and perm record, so will I get a court date in the mail? It's been more than 10 days and I didn't get anything in the mail about the fine. Does this go on my record? Should I get a lawyer? I checked shoplifting law for NJ and it says that if charges are pressed a person caught with less than 200$ will get no less than three days of community service, if this happens to me, does it go on my record?

[panther10758]

Your post is really not clear. The fine I would guess is Civil Demand and there is no judge involved in that. The dollar value depends and will fall within range given. Plan on around $300.00 which is the norm. Now your other issue. If cops were not called then its possible no criminal charges were filed. This means nothing on your record. You should call Kohl's and ask if a criminal complaint was filed. Or you can wait for a letter in mail saying you have a court date to face criminal charges

[whathappensnow1]

what parts are unclear....if I fix them, will you be able to give me a better judgment about what will happen?

my story in a nutshell without confusing details: I was caught, taken to the back room the lady threaten to call the cops if I did not confess to it, so I did. She then took my info and searched me, as well as taking my pic and pic of the goods that were stolen. While she was doing this, the other day told me stuff like "this is going to go on your perm record", "it will follow you around for the rest of you life" and stuff like that. After signing three papers, one for trespassing, two for stuff I dont remember, but had to do with a confession for attempted shoplifting. When the lady had all her paperwork done, she said she would not call the cops for a low $ value. then the lady told me I was going to get a letter in the mail with a fine, when I asked her for a ballpark figure she said the judge would decide and it depends on the report she writes up about me. Does that mean that she has intended to write a police report, even though as far as I know, the cops were not there when I was detained?


Also, when the lady say about this going on my perm record, that would mean that I was going to get a court date...right? she didnt say one or the other. Or could it be that she was just trying to scare me?

Would calling the store be a good idea to find out if criminal charges are going to be pressed, or would that provoke them and make them hate me even more and make everything worse?

[panther10758]

If a store is pressing charges its the norm to call Police while your detained, not after. It does not appear as though charges were pressed. If they have or are they must then go to PD station and file complaint. Calling store isnt likely going to provoke prosecution. I would say its safe to assume then seek Civil Demand. Once you pay it its over with no crimonal record. The only other record might be is if they submit names of shoplifters to a database many retailers can access. If you hav eno court date then there are no criminal charges therefore no criminal record

[whathappensnow1]

Calling the store does not violate the trespassing ban, right? Because I am not physically in the store?

[Security Consultant]

No, contacting the store does not violate a tresspass warning issued by the store.

[whathappensnow1]

does a civil demand letter come up on a background check, if paid?

[aaron]

It's not a public record.

[panther10758]

Its not a criminal record however some retailers put names of shoplifters in a database other retailers can see. If this store did put your name in said database and you applied for work at another retailer who can access this database your name as a shoplifter would come up

[whathappensnow1]

what about graduate schools and stuff like that? would it come up if you tried to get a job in the police department or something in law or army?