Help With A Shoplifting Charge

[panther10758]

Your putting the crt in front of the horse. Your first action is to request a public defender. You can also talk with a criminal defense Attorney many grant free office visit

[watergirl45]

if I do that prevention website will that help me?

[panther10758]

Groups like NASP and CASA and shoplifting programs. Judges many times smile upon those who join such programs and reward them with lighter sentence. However I cannot guarantee that

[watergirl45]

ok I am calling tomorrow on a public defender and I am also going to do the online program. Just out of curiosity what are my chances of not getting convicted and doing a diversion program and this not going on my record. Is it common for a judge to let you go if you have a clean record and its a first time? I have a month to wait this out and its going to drive me crazy. Also would a public defender have a better idea of knowing what was going to happen?

[watergirl45]

oh also which online program is better?

[panther10758]

We are not odds makers so it would be unfair and unwise for us to speculate your chances. NASP has a program you can take via a CD rom no online program exists yet. They will have one up and running this year sometime but not yet. CASA might but I am unsure

[watergirl45]

whats the website for CASA?

[watergirl45]

and how long do those programs take?

[panther10758]

Send me a private message (PM) I have contacts for both groups

[watergirl45]

I just tried to call about a public defender and the lady told me that the judge would appoint me one and that there would already be a public defender there. So what do I do when I go to court? Do I ask for one as soon as I get there? I have no idea how all this works she also didn't see my case number on file she said it was too soon.