NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Shoplifting Defense Attorneys in New Jersey

Defend Your Rights with the Shoplifting Attorneys in New Jersey

Shoplifting is a serious crime in New Jersey that can turn your life upside down. Whether you’re facing a second, third, or fourth-degree offense, or even a disorderly persons offense, a conviction leads to a criminal record and severe penalties that might include jail time. To avoid this outcome, it’s essential to hire an attorney who possesses the requisite expertise necessary to help defend against shoplifting charges.

At our law firm in New Jersey, we have highly skilled attorneys dedicated to protecting your rights throughout the legal process of defending yourself against shoplifting allegations. With our team of experienced lawyers on your side, your chances of escaping from criminal allegations related to shoplifting are tremendously improved.

Understanding New Jersey Shoplifting Legislation

New Jersey Criminal Code at N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11 categorizes shoplifting into six types of conduct:

1. Purposely taking possession of goods with the intention of depriving the merchant of its value
2. Concealing goods
3. Altering, transferring, or removing price tags or labels to pay less than their true value
4. Exchanging merchandise boxes or containers to deprive merchants of their full value
5. Under-ringing merchandise
6. Removing shopping carts from retailer premises.

It’s important to note that such actions only attract charges under any given New Jersey shoplifting scenario if conducted knowingly by someone intending to deprive merchants of their goods’ actual value.

Degrees and Penalties for Shoplifting Offenses

One may argue that there exists various infractions of differing degrees concerning shoplifting offenses in New Jersey depending on the value of merchandises stolen:

1) For stolen items retailing at $75,000 or more (second-degree), one may face five-ten years in prison plus $150k fines.
2) A theft with valuations between $500 to $75,000 (third-degree) can earn up to 18 months in prison besides fines that cannot surpass $10k.
3) In instances where the value of merchandises stolen is between $200 to $500 (fourth-degree), one could face punishment that includes a maximum of six months jail time and penalties reaching sup$5000 as imposed by a New Jersey court.
4) Shoplifting merchandise with valuations less than two-hundred dollars attracts disorderly person offenses punishable by up to six-months jail term or up-to a grand in fines.

It’s also worth noting that multiple acts of shoplifting can be pursued and summated. For example, if an individual pinches something from four different retailers at a mall within one day, the prosecutor could add up the items’ worth stolen together to rank the severity of charges.

Additional Costs Resulting from Convictions

Some collateral damages may be inflicted whenever someone faces any shoplifting charges even beyond the criminal penalties above. A merchant may demand charges related to civil damages amounting to around $150 against persons accused of shoplifting while immigration status issues are pertinent for people who aren’t US citizens. Non-citizens under such situations should avoid convictions given their circumstances which call for additional penalties due to violations on moral turpitude grounds.

Retail Theft Enterprise Sentencing Guidelines

The New Jersey law defines organized retail theft enterprise as the joining together of two or more persons involved in transferring shoplifted merchandise illegally. Penalties exist for involvement in these activities, including:

1) Possession or transferring merchandise exceeding $1,000 value results in second-degree offenses leading five-ten years in prison when being sentenced.
2) Third degrees apply if retail theft values get pegged between $200 and $500.

Possessing Anti-Shoplifting Devices is Also Illegal

New Jersey state forbids having demagnetizing devices or materials intended to change the product code label’s bar or other devices aimed at sabotaging typical anti-shoplifting countermeasures. If found guilty of illegal possession, the state imposes a disorderly person’s offense leading to up-to six-month sentences besides hefty fines as per the state rulings.

Retail Theft is not Simple Shoplifting

Usually, when someone uses force, they attract robbery charges beyond a mere simple shoplifting violation. As instances of such behaviors are common, shoplifting charges turn into robbery charges attracting harsher consequences once one uses some power.

Robbery in New Jersey gets classified as a second-degree crime leading to lengthy prison sentences besides $150k fines where No Early Release Act guidelines must be adhered to before parole consideration can take place. You will require legal representation capable of managing or avoid situations that lead to such scenarios to avoid any possibility of unnecessary punishment.

Trust the Shoplifting Attorneys at Spodek Law Group

Shoplifting accusations are always daunting regardless of whether you accidentally walked out while distracted while shopping or intentionally stole an item. Ultimately considering the possible penalties and long-term stigmatization from such allegations, your future prospects hinge on diligent legal representation. Our skilled lawyers work closely with our clients accused of such offenses in Bergen County, Monmouth County, Hudson County, Camden County, Union County, Middlesex County, Ocean County, Somerset County, Essex County Mercer County and Burlington County.

We also provide feedback for mandatory diversion programs available for two levels of shoplifting offenses while taking cognizance immigration collateral penalties that may influence persons convicted on these count outside regular statutes. Consider engaging our firm today for consultations about your criminal case defense plan options!