While most criminal and juvenile justice professionals strive to handle their shoplifting cases with appropriate and effective action, the reality is that with the overwhelming number of cases on their dockets, the crime of shoplifting often falls to the “low crime on the totem pole”. This leads to shoplifting cases too often being disposed of with less effective sanctions or even a simple warning and release.

While this practice may aid the court system in reducing their caseloads for the immediate future, to impact long term shoplifter recidivism the courts will gain most from sentencing offenders to an “offense-specific” educational program along with other sanctions.

Admissions by shoplifters in a confidential survey reveal that:

• Shoplifters who continually repeat the offense want to stop, but are often to ashamed or afraid to ask for help. Because these offenders don’t often voluntarily enroll in an educational program, we must rely on the courts to sentence offenders to receive formal, structured education at the time when they will be most receptive to it….that is, when caught or prosecuted.
  
  
• The most important factor in determining if a person will shoplift again is their experience the time before. If shoplifters are merely given a “slap on the wrist” when sent to court, it is more likely that they will repeat the act and ultimately end up back in the court system.

“Offense-specific" education programs for shoplifting offenders have proven to be an effective way to reduce recidivism because effective programs address the “root causes” of shoplifting and give individuals an understanding about the problem as it relates to society and themselves.

Psychological profiles and admissions by shoplifters have revealed that 1 out of 3 “first-offender” shoplifters are “at risk” of repeating the offense. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the community to require the offender to participate in a substantive educational rehabilitation program, in addition to other sanctions such as fines, court costs, community service, probation or jail.

To utilize an “offense-specific” educational rehabilitation program for adults or juveniles caught shoplifting as part of a plea bargain agreement, diversion agreement, probation or sentence, visit the Criminal & Juvenile Justice Center.

To learn about the National Shoplifting Prevention Coalition, view member benefits or to become a member, click here.

For information, research and statistics about the shoplifting problem visit the National Learning and Resource Center.

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