If you have recently been charged with shoplifting, you might be feeling embarrassed, upset, and afraid of what is going to happen next. Being accused of shoplifting is something that you should ask for help with, and luckily, a criminal defense attorney should be able to help you out.

Your Reputation Might Be at Stake

One thing that you might be experiencing right now is embarrassment due to the shoplifting charges. You could be concerned about your family members and friends finding out and thinking differently about you because of your charges. You might be concerned that you will have a hard time getting various jobs in the future if you have a theft-related charge on your record. It's true that being convicted of shoplifting could impact your reputation in negative ways, but there is a good chance that a criminal defense lawyer will be able to help you.

The Charges Might Be More Serious Than You Think

Right now, you might not be overly concerned that your shoplifting charges are very serious. After all, in comparison to some of the other crimes that you could be accused of, you might feel as if shoplifting is relatively minor.

This depends on the specifics of the case, the laws in your area, and your previous criminal record, however. If you have been convicted of shoplifting in the past, for example, you might be facing jail time. Additionally, be aware that the value of the items that you are accused of shoplifting could have a serious impact on the consequences of a conviction, too; if you were accused of shoplifting a small item that didn't have much value, for example, the consequences that you might be facing probably aren't as serious as if you were accused of shoplifting higher-value items.

By talking to a criminal defense attorney, you can find out more about just how serious your charges really are, and you can get help with handling your case in the best way possible so that you can hopefully minimize the consequences or even have the charges dismissed.

If you have recently been arrested or cited for shoplifting, it is important to take the situation seriously and to reach out for help. Luckily, criminal defense lawyers are often experienced with handling these types of cases, so if you hire a good lawyer, you should be able to count on them to help you out.

If you have additional questions, reach out to a local criminal defense lawyer.