When someone under the age of 18 commits a crime, they’re not dealt with through the adult criminal justice system, but through the juvenile justice system instead. Here in Maryland, the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) has its own intake, court, prosecutors, detention, and rules. However, a criminal offense is still a criminal offense, and this includes the common crime of shoplifting.

The juvenile justice system exists because the law doesn’t consider minors to have the same decision-making abilities as adults. Penalties for juvenile crimes are intended to teach and correct rather than punish and deter. Therefore, juvenile courts have more discretion in determining the course of action for individual cases.

Here in Maryland, shoplifting crimes include the following:

• Concealing one item inside another to avoid paying for it
• Consuming edible/perishable items while shopping without paying for them
• Intentionally leaving an establishment with an item you didn’t pay for
• Switching or altering price tags to make an item appear cheaper

What if my child is charged with shoplifting?

With an offense like shoplifting, your child’s case will be handled through the DJS. Your defense attorney will help guide you through, but the process will go something like the following.

First, the DJS will meet with your child; this is called an intake meeting. Depending on whether or not this is a first offense, they have the power to close the case then and there and send your child home with you. An attorney can help to persuade the Intake Officer to close the case and not forward it to the State’s Attorney’s Office to file charges for prosecution.

If charges are filed, the case will be heard in juvenile court. It depends on the value of the merchandise stolen whether or not the charges will be a misdemeanor or a felony. No matter what the charges, our experienced legal team can help defend your child and work to avoid conviction.

Will my child have a criminal record?

• Many, if not most, of us make mistakes when we’re young. Some young people may make reckless or dangerous choices that land them on the wrong side of the law. However, in time they grow to be responsible and lawful adults and leave that carelessness in their past. It’s crucial to remember that even a juvenile record may not always disappear just because someone turns eighteen.

In certain cases, it may be possible to have offenses removed from a criminal record. Maryland law allows this, called expungement, under some circumstances. If granted an expungement, your criminal offense information is removed from your records, and it won’t show up on an employer background check. The records are physically destroyed or moved to secure, non-accessible storage.

Not everyone qualifies for expungement, and it’s a complicated process. Talk to a criminal defense attorney for more details and information.

If your child was charged with a shoplifting or theft crime, ensure you understand the long-term implications of a conviction. The juvenile justice system works differently than the traditional criminal justice process. Talk to the defense attorneys at Carey Law Office for knowledgeable legal guidance and representation today. For a consultation, please call 301-464-2500 or use our contact form to schedule an appointment. We have offices in Bowie and Crofton.