I need help... please.

[ineedsomehlp]

Yesterday I was caught shoplifting. It was so stupid, I don't even know why I did it.

I am 15 years old.
This is my first offense.
I live in Michigan.
I stole (don't yell at me) $309 worth of merchandise from Meijer's.

Everything since then has just been a blur... I'm being taken to court sometime, and I don't know what it'll be like.
I need help. What is going to happen? How much are court fees, usually?


Please don't take this as a chance to tell me what i did was wrong, that I'm stupid, ask me what I was thinking, or anything of the sort. I'm upset... Don't make it any worse!

 

[NeSchn]

Well, stealing $309 of shit is a pretty serious offense. You are 15, eh?

You will most likely get probation and community service and I can't believe you would steal anything, get some fucking money and buy it.

 

[junker_man32]

lol and i thought i did wrong things on this form (which i did) but shoplifting, how fucking dumb! what they will do is kill u in court, like KILL! now do u have ur hopes up, u learned ur lesson, buy now! (get it, im telling you to buy and im saying bye so GO AWAY FROM HERE!)

 

[ZER∅]

If you go to prison, and someone leaves a cupcake/candybar on your pillow; DO NOT EAT IT. Whoever left it there is going to want something in return

 

[TrolleyDave]

lol If it's your first offence mate you'll get a slap on the wrist, probably some probey and community service. At worst you'll get a fine as well. You won't get any kind of institutional time or nothing. Seriously mate, just calm down and breath easy. Although keep up that remorse, not only will it stop you doing something so stupid again, it'll go well for you in court. Judges like seeing kids freaked out to fuck by being caught and having charges slapped on them. It shows you're not planning on becoming a carreer criminal.

 

[Maktub]

Get loads of tobacco. It's the currency in prison.

Now seriously: dunno, don't live in the USA. In Spain, you'd get just yelled at. I guess.

 

[Four_X]

If you drop the soap in the prison showers don't bend over to pick it up, ha

If this is your first offence then you will probubley get a slap on the wrist and
a fine, you May be sent to a shrink if the judge thinks it will benefit you to find
the Course of why you did what you did.

Personally I wouldn’t worry, your not going to prison for shoplifting unless you
are a prolific offender.

 

[p1ngpong]

Since it was your first time you probably will get away with just a slap on the wrist.

Just say you were stupid, have learnt your lesson and wont do it again.

 

[TrolleyDave]

Just say you were stupid, have learnt your lesson and wont do it again.

And if the judge asks why you think you were stupid don't answer with "Cos I got caught".

 

[Law]

This is why you should only ever steal candy and items stores don't care about.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

What the fuck is a Meijers? I live in New Jersey, if that's any help.

And who needs shoplifting when you have the internet? You can get music, movies, games, porn, all your life essentials. And for free.

 

[ineedsomehlp]

Meijers is like Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc. etc.

I know I won't go to jail...
Does anyone know what court is like for juviniles? We had a "court day" in school where the judge and the defendants came to our school to show us what it was like... they basically just lined up and each session was about 5 minutes. Is that what it'll be like for me? there were kids around my age up there...

And to everyone with a serious reply, thank you. I feel better already, but I still feel awful.

Are there any questions the judge will ask that I should prepare for?

 

[Maktub]

What the fuck is a Meijers? I live in New Jersey, if that's any help.

And who needs shoplifting when you have the internet? You can get music, movies, games, porn, all your life essentials. And for free.

So true.

You speak wise, evil clown.

 

[golden]

what did you steal?

 

[Hop2089]

Get yourself a good public defender if can't afford legal counsel in other words a lawyer and if you have an attorney like I do call the person now. Oh yeah and turn yourself in afterwards it'll help your case especially in non-violent crimes.

The only thing you'll get with proper counsel is probation, 500 hours community service or paying restitution at worse, It's not felony level yet.

 

[Shakraka]

Meijers is like Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc. etc.

I know I won't go to jail...
Does anyone know what court is like for juviniles? We had a "court day" in school where the judge and the defendants came to our school to show us what it was like... they basically just lined up and each session was about 5 minutes. Is that what it'll be like for me? there were kids around my age up there...

And to everyone with a serious reply, thank you. I feel better already, but I still feel awful.

Are there any questions the judge will ask that I should prepare for?

Well, from what I remember from an episode of The Simpsons, the kids there pee in cups and throw them at you.

Seriously though, I have no idea what juvy is like. But I doubt they'd send you to juvy; just some fines and/or community service or something like that.

 

[Law]

Just make sure when in court to shout "Objection" as loud as you can, whenever you can.

 

[Advi]

In America, pleading guilty is your best option. With some luck, you get a slap on the wrist and perhaps you won't see this on your record.

 

[yuyuyup]

I got caught when I was 14 or 15 but it was less than $150, I only had to pay a fine and do some community service, then my record was expunged

 

[KingdomBlade]

Just turn yourself in, you know you did it, so why bother even trying to defend yourself? Since your 15, you'll probably get some sort of community service.