What is Shoplifting Diversion in Canada? Expert Criminal Lawyer in Mississauga & Brampton Speak
by Kathllin Smith I am a Professional Writer.Shoplifting is a real problem for business owners all around the
country. Thousands of Canadians get convicted for the act every year. We here
at Bhangal Law services have defended a long list of accused over the years.
Often such prosecutions are rare as the cost of prosecution for small-time
thefts is way less. To solve such problems, there is an option called
"diversion".
Most Criminal Lawyer in Mississauga and Brampton would suggest
taking choosing diversion to avoid unnecessary expenses.
What is 'Diversion
for Shoplifting'?
In most cases, the accused are first-time offenders. So, these are
mostly low-value thefts that often recovered by the business itself. In most
cases, the defendants are given the opportunity to participate in a diversion
program. This helps to move the protection outside the legal system to be
stayed or dropped entirely. Also, if the accused is found eligible for
diversion, he/she is asked to take part in one of the listed programs.
But a defendant will need a Criminal Lawyer in Brampton or
Mississauga to ensure the best outcome in their favor. And getting a diversion
is a favorable outcome.
So what are the programs a defendant can opt for?
- Accept Responsibility
To participate in a diversion program, one must admit to a staff person
outside of court that you did intentionally try to take the items you were
accused of shoplifting.
Make Restitution
In most cases, the shoplifted goods are recovered on the spot as soon as
a person is stopped for the crime but in some circumstances, one or more of the
products might not be immediately recovered.
Make a Charitable
Donation
The most common demand to have a shoplifting charge withdrawn is to make
a charitable donation. The size of the donation is usually a function of the value
of the items stolen so the higher the value of the shoplifted goods, the higher
the donation you will be asked to make will be. Donations can usually be made
to any registered Canadian charity.
Do Community Service
Some courthouses or crown attorneys are uncomfortable withdrawing
shoplifting charges in exchange for charitable donations. This exchange makes
it appear that those who are rich enough and also willing enough to pay, can
buy their way out of justice. As a result, some jurisdictions prefer that an
offender complete community service instead of, or in addition to, making a
charitable donation.
Write a Letter of Apology
Regardless of the age of the offender, the expectation is that a letter
of apology will be genuine, written by the offender him or herself, and reflect
not so much on the consequences to the offender but rather demonstrate insight
of the impact of shoplifting on storeowners and consumers.
Take Counseling
Many times, shoplifting is a symptom of a deeper mental health issue
often associated with self-esteem. The poor person who steals food from the local grocery store has an obvious reason for shoplifting but our office
routinely sees wealthy, well-established professionals who could easily pay for
the items in their cart charged with shoplifting.
Take an anti-shoplifting course. Some jurisdictions either operate their
own stop-shoplifting programs or refer offenders to courses run by local
charities such as the Salvation Army or the John Howard society.
So, if you ever find yourself in trouble and end up being accused of
shoplifting, connecting with a Brampton or Mississauga Criminal Lawyer should
be the first step. Shoplifting offenses can hurt your future badly and put
forward different obstacles from with time. For services of reputed and
reliable Mississauga or Brampton Criminal Lawyer feel free to contact us
anytime.
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Created on Jul 27th 2020 16:54. Viewed 359 times.