Hi, I am currently 17 in high school (Maryland) and got caught shoplifting 4 years ago at sports authority. It was a misdemeanor.

They said it would be put on my record, I was banned for a year, and I would be put into a Database that shops refer to in the hiring process to see if I am trustworthy to work in retail.
It would be erased when I am 18, so they say. And they would bill me for 3x the amount that I stole.

I never got a bill, and tried background checks and found nothing. So I'm wondering if they were just trying to scare me? I am filling out job applications and I'm not sure If I should mention that I have had a misdemeanor and explain it? Or should I wait until I am 18?

Depends on the question - were you arrested? If you were, the answer to "have you ever been arrested" is yes. If you were not, the answer is no.

Asking for restitution is standard. Someone forgot to bill you.

You don't run the same background check, for example, that the Government or other services run. They have access to closed/locked files. This, however, was a juvenile offense.

My feeling? It's a juvenile offense and no one much cares about it. If you lie and are caught the employer WILL care about that.

Depends on where you are attempting to obtain employment.

It does not sound like the police where called, if the police were not called and you were not arrested then there is no criminal record.

They would have a in store record, I doubt they erase it, so if you tried to go to work at their store, they would know it.

Also I know of no shared database that retailers use. So they were probably trying to scare you. But you NEED to be honest on a job app and answer any questions truthfully. You don 't need to answer questions not asked.