L just recently got charged with this crime in Toronto at sears. I was wondering how the process is going to happen also if there will be a criminal record on my file. Since l was caught should l plea gulity or not and the outcome to each please (gulity or not)THank you.

Plea guilty, and get it over with more quick. If you've committed a crime, and you're caught, you're aren't just a suspect, you're charged. To plea not-guilty without any credibility to back it up would not only insult the intelligence of the judge, but almost definitely ensure a stiffer penalty.

So if l was to plea guilty can l still try to get a alternate measure?

Hello k:

If it was me, I'd hire a lawyer. If you could just look up the law and find out what the sentence is, we wouldn't need judges. What I can tell you is this: Bad things will happen if you are convicted of a crime. Some of those things will last YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. That's a long, long time to pay for a mistake you made at 18.

excon

OK. First of all just go to those lawyers that are already at the court room for the people that don't have money for lawyers. Don't waste your money on a lawyer because its not worth it. Your only going to get a fine some where between 150$ to 300$. I got caught shop lifting 3 times (not proud of this I was a dumb teenager) and the first time I got nothing for doing it the secong time I was a bit older 19 I think and got a 150$ fine the third time which was only 3 months later I got a 300$ fine. The last 2 times I didn't even have to plea guilty or not guilty. Shop lifting now days is a slap on the wrist. Don't stress over it just don't do it again because its stupid and your going to have a crimmnal record now making it hard to get a job and your not going to beable to go to the states. If you were under 18 you wouldn't get a record but they might give you a break if you pay a fine and if its your first offense and stay out of troble for the rest of your life.

So basically your saying that if l pay the fine(sears or the gov?) and even if l do alternate meaure where l do some community service l will still have a criminal record?

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Originally Posted by keljai

l just recently got charged with this crime in Toronto at sears. I was wondering how the process is going to happen also if there will be a criminal record on my file. Since l was caught should l plea gulity or not and the outcome to each please (gulity or not)THank you.

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Since you are 18, you are an adult now. Pleading guilty or not depends on how you were caught. I imagine they have enough evidence since you were charged. Below is what happens if you plead guilty and accept responsibility in Canada for theft under 5K.

You should have a notice of appearance form which also have a date for your identification to be done. Identification is fingerprinting and photos. If you want to hire a lawyer, it is about the $500 range. If you can't afford a lawyer, you will appear on your court date and ask for the duty counsel for assistance. He/she is a lawyer and will guide through the process of talking to the judge. You should plead guilty and majority of the time they will send you to the Alternative Measures program (also called diversion). If you are sent to the diversion program, you will either do community work, restitution, write an apology letter, or give a donation. What you do will be determined by a probation officer assigned to your case. Once you have completed your conditions, you can go back to court to have your records removed thus no criminal record. Your identification/fingerprints will also be removed after 6 months. Hope this helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by keljai

so basically your saying that if l pay the fine(sears or the gov?) and even if l do alternate meaure where l do some community service l will still have a criminal record?

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As mentioned in my previous post, if you are in Alternative Measures and you complete your conditions i.e. community work, your records will be removed.

So basically l will have a criminal record no matter what? And even if they make me pay a fine (the stolen location or the gov?) or alternate

No you will NOT have a criminal record if you are in Alternative Measures and you complete the program.

I did that at the bay at 18 and they caught me fair and square. From what I know it will be a permanent record most likely. There is a chance, if you really convince the court, to get a discharge, usually if you do community service or donate or sth. Anyway, check the specifics at your city. I feel your pain.

Good luck!