My girlfriend got caught stealing an item of $200 and is worried she is going to do 5 years and jail and a $10.000 fine she can't stop crying she is 21 and this is her first offence

Hi Russell

Certainly a very irresponsible/immature thing to do, but she won't be going to jail over this as long as she does everything the courts require of her. What she will get is a LOT of hassle over this and she will quickly find that the energy lost to this entire "adventure" will cost her plenty of time, money and lost wages (if she has a job). The court will NOT make appointments at convenient times, the probation officer will NOT make appointments at convenient times and even if she has a job they will not care if she needs to leave work to make a meeting/appointment, etc., etc., etc...

From the people I have known over the years that got into similar trouble, they quickly found out that the $200.00 item they wanted probably cost them a thousand dollars or so (or more) in terms of time and lost wages/fines AND they don't even get to keep the item, right? Simply put, the court will teach this lesson in a very inconvenient manner and that is the whole point, right? Hopefully, the point is learned well by the time all is said and done, and your girlfriend will not make this mistake again!

Good luck!

Mark

She is not a juvenile and will be treated differently. Probably her first time getting caught.

Jails are full. It is highly unlikely, that she will get jail time for a first offense. Especially at her age. Most likely she will be required to make restitution and serve probation and maybe community service.

On the other hand, she may be subject to fines, not only from the court, but from the store as well.