I got caught for shoplifting at Zellers and I have been banned from the mall and all the HBC locations, but they charged me and I have to go to court for it. I was just wondering what the possible charges would be. Everyone, including legal aid said that I don't have to worry about jail time but I was just wondering about the charges. I got charged because when I was 16 me and my friends got caught for shoplifting but because of her holding the stuff all of us got caught. I just want to know about the charges, and how to get it take off my record after because I'm almost 21 now. Thanks

Depending on which state you are in chances are you will probably get probation. Being you were caught when you were 16 and now you are 21 I'm sure those records are sealed or probably don't exist in the system... so do not volunteer that info to the judge... if he asks if you have been caught before I would recommend conveniently having a lapse of memory. Also if your having trouble with shoplifting I would recommend going to shoplifters anonymous...

Trust me.. I'm a lawyer...

Sorry, no an attorney would never tell someone to lie to the judge, since lying in court is a criminal offense and an attorney could get brought before the board for such actions.

An attorney would have not testify at all, if you were to have to testify.
Also the judge does not ask you questions, in criminal trial, the DA will be asking the questions if you actually go trial,

But if you lie under oath, you will be in a lot more trouble than the shop lifting

With all due respect you don't have a clue of how the system works. The prosecutors always try and get the stiffest penalties on the easiest cases. Shooting fish in a barrel. This pads their reputation and makes them look good. So if you go in and be completely honest you will be steamrolled by the system. You will serve an unfair sentence while someone with a far worse crime will not, only because they will have better lawyers to beat the system.
In a perfect world honesty would be the best policy but in the world of judicial proceedings you will be treated very unfairly. If you don't operate in the gray area at times then you will have your honesty to keep you company in jail.

And flexing of the truth happens all the time in official proceedings... remember President Bill Clinton bending it with... "it all depends what the word is is?" and he was a President...

Jail will not help someone with a kleptomania. If anything it will make someone a worse criminal from being in jail. You have to look out for yourself because to the system you are a statistic.. they don't care. That is a lesson that should be taught from day one. Then more crimes would not be committed. If people realized whose hands they are placing their life then they would definitely be more hesitant with their actions...