Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

General Obligation Law

I'm 16 years old -

Couple of week ago my friends who are 18 and I went to Steve & Barry's in the Palisades mall in West Nyack, NY. We stole 17 t-shirts between the four of us. The amount totaled to around 160 dollars combined between all of us. This afternoon I received a letter saying that my parents have to pay 500 dollars or else they will bring us to court. I did not sign a theft awareness sheet due to my age but my friends did. The cop are involved but I have not been to court yet. Are they allowed to charge each of us 500 dollars? it feels like they are just doing it cause they know it'd be cheaper to settle it this way.

Please help.


Asked on 6/21/08, 2:08 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joel Salinger Law Office of Joel R. Salinger

Re: General Obligation Law

The stores are not settling. Under New York State General Obligations Law the store is assessing a Civil penalty that they can legally assess on the perpetrator of a shop lifting accusation. You will still be prosecuted by the District Attorney's office on this matter and will still have to pay court fines and for an attorney to defend you. You can try to fight it but it is legal.

Joel R. Salinger, Esq.

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Answered on 6/21/08, 4:37 pm


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