Shoplifting is not a minor offense in New Jersey. If you are convicted of shoplifting, you face a serious risk of going to jail. It will depend on the circumstances of the charge, including whether:
- The full retail value of the item (or items) that you allegedly stole elevates the offense
- You were accused of participating in an “organized retail theft enterprise”
- You have been convicted of two or more shoplifting offenses in the past.
Jason A. Volet is a former prosecutor and an experienced Monmouth County theft defense lawyer. He understands that the stakes are high if you are charged with shoplifting. He can provide a free consultation and begin working on a defense strategy for you right away. Contact us now at The Law Office of Jason A. Volet to discuss your case in a free consultation.
Can a Store Detain You If You Are ‘Caught’ Shoplifting?
Stores in New Jersey – from big-box retailers like Wal-Mart to neighborhood convenience stores – are taking an increasingly aggressive approach to shoplifting. They now commonly use surveillance cameras, undercover security guards and anti-shoplifting chips or tags to try to catch shoplifters and prevent losses.
If a store believes it has caught you in the act of stealing items, the store can lawfully take you into custody under New Jersey’s shoplifting statute (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11). The law allows the store to detain a suspected shoplifter “in a reasonable manner for not more than a reasonable time” in order to recover any merchandise. Typically, after a store recovers the property, the store will call the police.
Keep in mind: An arrest is not a conviction. You can fight the charges against you. With the help of a knowledge criminal defense attorney, you may be able to get your shoplifting charge dismissed or reduced and, ultimately, avoid any jail time.
What Is the Full Retail Value of the Item or Items Involved?
If you are charged with shoplifting, your risk of incarceration – and the potential length of your sentence – will depend on several factors, including the “full retail value” of the item or items which you are accused of shoplifting. The full retail value is a store’s stated or advertised price for an item. In short, the more expensive an item is, the more serious the shoplifting charge will be in New Jersey. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11:
- If the full retail value of the merchandise is less than $200, then you could face a disorderly persons offense and a sentence of up to six months. A disorderly persons offense is similar to a misdemeanor. Typically, a person will receive probation instead of an active sentence.
- If the value is at least $200 but does not exceed $500, you face a charge for an indictable offense, or a crime of the fourth degree. An indictable offense in New Jersey is similar to a felony. A fourth-degree crime can result in a sentence of up to 18 months.
- If the value exceeds $500 but is less than $75,000, you could be charged with a crime of the third degree, which carries a potential sentence of between three to five years.
- If the value is $75,000 or more, you could be charged with a crime of the second degree and face a potential sentence of between five to 10 years.
If you are accused of stealing more than one item, a prosecutor can add up the full retail value of all of those items in order to determine the grade of offense.
Were You Accused of Shoplifting as Part of a Retail Theft Enterprise?
Another important factor when it comes to determining imprisonment in New Jersey shoplifting cases is whether you were allegedly engaged in an “organized retail theft enterprise.” The law defines such an enterprise as “any association of two or more persons” for the purpose of transferring or selling shoplifted merchandise.
If you are found to have engaged in an organized retail theft enterprise, you could face:
- A crime of the third-degree charge if the full retail value of the merchandise is less than $1,000
- A crime of the second-degree charge if the full retail value of the charge is $1,000 or higher.
In other words, depending on the full retail value of the merchandise involved in your case, you could face as few as three years and as many as 10 years of imprisonment if you are convicted of this type of shoplifting charge.
Are You Facing a Third or Subsequent Shoplifting Charge?
Your prior record also plays a role in the incarceration that you could face if you are charged with shoplifting in New Jersey. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11, any person who is convicted of a third or subsequent shoplifting offense must serve a minimum term of 90 days of imprisonment. In other words, you cannot avoid incarceration.
Can a Shoplifting Charge Lead to Other Consequences?
In addition to the risk of going to jail, you can face many other consequences if you are convicted of shoplifting in New Jersey. Some of the direct consequences include:
- Paying restitution as well as fines and court costs
- Performing community service (a minimum of 10 days for a first offense, 15 days for a second offense and 25 days for a third or subsequent offense)
- Losing your driving privileges.
First-Time Shoplifting Charges in NJ
With that said, if you are a first-time offender, you may be eligible for a Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI). This program provides a way for low-level offenders to avoid a conviction if they attend counseling, perform community service and meet all other conditions.
Get Help from an Experienced NJ Shoplifting Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with shoplifting in Freehold, Neptune or anywhere else in New Jersey, start your defense right away. Contact attorney Jason A. Volet today. He can provide the experienced, aggressive legal defense that you need during this difficult time, and he will work tirelessly to protect your rights and seek the best possible outcome in your case.
About the Author
Jason A. Volet
Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a criminal trial attorney, Jason A. Volet focuses his practice exclusively on criminal and municipal defense in New Jersey and New York. He earned his B.A. in political science from Rutgers College in 1995 and his J.D. from the Hofstra University School of Law in 1998. Mr. Volet began his career in the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, where he gained extensive experience prosecuting both juvenile and adult offenders. Now, as a criminal defense attorney, he uses that experience to fight for the rights of individuals who have been charged with a crime.
