Legal Question in Criminal Law in Arizona

My friend just got arrested for shoplifting, she is 18. She is currently waiting in jail to see a judge tomorrow, what should she do? and what type of legal punishment is she looking at?


Asked on 3/23/12, 12:35 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jeremy Claridge Byrne & Benesch

There is no closed juvenile record in Arizona. If this is a first time offense and the items she was shoplifting was valued less than $1000, she'll be brought before the judge and if she pleads guilty she'll be released and given a fine and maybe unsupervised probation. Depending on where she's at, she may be able to waive counsel and talk with the prosecutor to work out a deal. If she talks to the prosecutor and doesn't like what he has to offer, she should get an attorney. The trouble is that you can never tell what the judge is going to do. Because of all of these different variables it is always good to get an attorney. If she doesn't plead guilty and the prosecutor is not available at that time (most jurisdictions do not have a prosecutor available at the initial hearing.) the judge has the option of keeping her in jail until she posts bond. On a misdemeanor she can argue release on her own recognizance ("OR") or argue a lower bond amount. Her best argument for release is that she is not a flight risk, and that she has a clean record. There should already be a bond on her right now if you want to get some money together and post it, however she'll likely be released OR if you just wait patiently.

I hope this helps.

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Answered on 3/23/12, 7:45 am


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