Friend Snagged For The Third Time For Shoplifting

[tbp7691]

Hello, a friend of mine was snagged a year ago in a neighboring state (PA) with shoplifting over $500 worth of merchandise and was given lienency by the court with just probation.

about a month ago this friend was snagged agian in NJ for shoplifting about $900 in merchandise, was released on bail and less than two weeks lator she was snagged again for not only shoplifting about $900 in merchandise, but also had on her posession merchandise from 2 other stores that she had shoplifted from totalling about $800 additional. Apparently they charged her with receiving stolen property in addition to shoplifting.

She has been in jail for the past 3 weeks and no one has heard any word from her, mostly because all of her friends and family do not have a regular telephone in which they can accept collect calls.

My questions are: Why cant she get out on bail? Is she most likely denied bail?

Also, what will most likely happen to her on each side of the extremes? Is there a possibility she can get off with just probation or will she be most likely sentanced to long term jail time?

I am told by another friend that a court appearence is in a week and that she has been appointed an attourney.

Thank you!

[panther10758]

Without knowing the details or reason for bail issue no one here can safely say

[aaron]

Odds are high that bail has been set, but that she cannot post it herself and nobody else in her family is willing and/or able to do so.

With this record and these charges, jail time would not surprise me at all. But she'll get credit for time served.

[usedbranflakes]

Chances are that the bail is a Felony level bail for a habitual offender, which means that it is likely $10,000 to $25,000. This means that someone has to pay $1,000 to $2,500 (not refundable) to a bail bondsman, who takes care of the rest, to get your friend out of jail. If they were stealing items below $1,000 then someone likely does not have the money to pay or the property to put up as surety.

...or, as one of the lawyers mentioned, they don't want to put up the money.