As many times as you have stressed to your teenager that stealing is wrong, you are astonished to get the call notifying you that they were arrested for shoplifting. Your emotions may cloud your better judgment at this point, too.
Below is some information about teenage shoplifting charges that could prove helpful to some parents.
Your teen needs your help
Unless this is a recurring problem, now is not usually the best time to practice tough love. A lot goes on in California’s web of juvenile detention centers, and very little of it is good. You will likely need to bond your teen out of jail. In some jurisdictions, you may be able to sign something promising they will appear in court.
Seek dismissal or diversion
It may be possible to arrange private restitution to the merchant in exchange for them agreeing not to prosecute.
If that offer is rebuffed or the state picks up the charges, it might still be possible to arrange for your teenager to enter into a diversion program. These often feature a short lesson on the consequences of shoplifting, mandatory school attendance as well as requiring participants to get good grades.
Why this is so important
Diversion programs still require restitution and have consequences, but the focus is on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. Typically, only teens for whom this is their first tangle with the law will be offered this opportunity to keep the offense off their criminal records.
Pursue an expungement later
If your teen is arrested for shoplifting, help ensure that they get the best deal possible (while still experiencing consequences for their actions). If the charges can’t be dropped, a diversion program and future expungement could be the best possible outcome.