Legal Question in Disability Law in California

Probably your niece and her friends will never be able to get a job, ever. Better come up with lots of money for a lawyer.

Defend the charges, just like any other criminal defendant facing felony prison time. Most stores and DA'a now have adopted a 'full prosecution' policy to try to deter crime by punishing the criminal with jail time. Allowing the family to just pay for the goods stolen to avoid arrest would not do so. They also can bring civil action for damages and restitution. Your attorney will use whatever defenses you may have to try to negotiate a plea bargain, or file motions, or defend at trial, trying to keep you out of prison or jail. If this is a first offense, you probably won't end up in jail, or at least not for very long, but you can expect to pay substantial attorney fees, plus court fines and probation. If serious about hiring counsel to do so, feel free to contact me.