Juvenile Shoplifting Lawyer Near Freehold New Jersey
By far one of the more common juvenile criminal charges that we see being issued in Monmouth County is shoplifting. Even though shoplifting is considered a hybrid offense (i.e. Felony or Misdemeanor) in New Jersey, all juvenile shoplifting charges will be sent to the Monmouth County Superior Court, Family Division for disposition. The Juvenile Criminal Justice System is rather unique in New Jersey. There are in essence four different types of proceedings a juvenile charged with shoplifting can be forced to defend the allegations in. They are as follows: Juvenile Intake Service, Juvenile Conference Committee, Referee Hearing, Formal Hearing in front of Juvenile Judge. There are various factors that go into determining which type of hearing a Juvenile will be scheduled for but the value of the items in question and the juvenile’s criminal history are probably the two most important factors.
Need a Consultation with Juvenile Defense Attorney for Shoplifting Case in NJ
If a loved one has been charged with shoplifting in Monmouth County and they are scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court, we strongly urge that you contact an experienced Juvenile Criminal Justice Attorney as soon as possible. A juvenile conviction, which is more formally known as being “adjudicated as a delinquent” can have long lasting effects on a juvenile’s future. Including significant effects on their ability to get into their dream college. To schedule a free initial consultation today with one of the juvenile lawyers at Keith Oliver Criminal Law, please contact our office at 732.858.6959 or you can try contacting us online. We serve all of Monmouth County, including towns like Freehold Township, Middletown, Ocean Township, Asbury Park, Holmdel, Hazlet, Wall Township, Tinton Falls, Atlantic Highlands and Manalapan.
For more information on What to Expect in Juvenile Criminal Court in Monmouth County, please click the link.
How Serious is a Juvenile Shoplifting Charge in New Jersey?
As mentioned above, shoplifting is considered a hybrid offense. In other words, a juvenile charged with shoplifting in Monmouth County could be charged with either a “disorderly persons offense” (misdemeanor) or an “indictable offense” (felony). The value of the items in question is the sole factor in determining what degree of a shoplifting offense a juvenile is charged with. As would follow, the degree of the shoplifting offense will also dictate the potential penalties a juvenile faces. Here is a breakdown of the different degrees of juvenile shoplifting in New Jersey:
- Disorderly Persons Offense:
- Value of the Merchandise was Less than $200
- Fourth Degree Felony:
- Value of the Merchandise was Greater than $200 but Less than $500
- Third Degree Felony:
- Value of the Merchandise was Greater than $500 but Less than $75,000
If the juvenile is a first time offender and they are charged with either a disorderly persons offense or fourth degree indictable there is a very good chance that their case will be sent to a Juvenile Referee or even a Juvenile Conference Committee. On the other hand, if the juvenile has a prior record and/or if they are charged with a third degree shoplifting offense, more likely than not, their case will be sent a Juvenile Judge for a formal hearing.
For more information on Shoplifting Offenses and Possible Defenses, including incidents at Freehold Raceway Mall, please click the links.
What are the Potential Penalties for a Juvenile Convicted of Shoplifting in NJ
The New Jersey Juvenile Criminal Justice System is for the most part geared towards rehabilitation. That means that the potential penalties a juvenile could face for being adjudicated as a delinquent (conviction) on a shoplifting charge can really vary depending on the circumstances. Some of the more common penalties issued on a juvenile shoplifting conviction include: community service, essays, unsupervised probation, supervised probation, an apology letter and restitution. Depending on the juvenile’s record, they could be eligible for a differed disposition, which is a juvenile diversionary program. If the juvenile successfully completes the differed disposition program the criminal charges will be outright dismissed. For more information on differed dispositions in Juvenile Court, please click the link.
Need to Speak to a Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer about Shoplifting Charge in Monmouth County
Keith Oliver Criminal Law is a Monmouth County based criminal defense firm that a significant amount of experience dealing with the Juvenile Criminal Justice System. If unfortunately a loved one has been arrested and charged with a juvenile criminal offense in Monmouth County we strongly recommend that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Our attorneys handle all types of juvenile cases, including possession of drugs, the distribution of CDS, assault, burglary, harassment and disorderly conduct. We serve all of Monmouth County, including towns like Howell, Holmdel, Asbury Park, West Long Branch, Marlboro, Colts Neck and Highlands. To schedule a free initial consultation today with Mr. Oliver, who heads up our Monmouth County Juvenile Criminal Defense practice, please contact us at 732.858.6959.
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