Theft Can Hurt Your Career

(The content below was transcribed from an interview done with Acacia Law. We think you'll find it much easier
and more enjoyable to read this way.)

Interviewer: So the bottom line is, you may think shoplifting is no big deal, even stealing a candy bar can really impact your life because then it would be very hard to get a job anywhere. Because that's a signal to any employer that you may be likely to steal from them.

Acacia Law: Exactly. Now I have helped hundreds and hundreds of people, get out from underneath these charges. There are different options available that I've utilized over the years. I can't really go into detail with respect to how that's done for the specific reason is that each and every alleged victim, and when I mean victim I'm talking about whether it be Dillard's or Wal-Mart they all have their own policies. They all have their own departments that I have to deal with, but I personally handle and deal with each of these companies in order to try to normally come up with some sort of compromise even, some way of getting this dropped altogether.  Also, in some jurisdictions I am able to make people who are charged with shoplifting or any type of petty theft an opportunity to get out from under the criminal charge, even if they are guilty, with what's called a “Diversion Program.” It does take a fair amount of work usually, and there are some restrictions, but normally I would say that the penalties for not reducing or dismissing the theft which again goes straight to what shoplifting is the heart of…

Interviewer: Okay.

Acacia Law: Anything of that nature has got to be addressed and prevented from being part of their permanent criminal record if at all possible