Theft Prevention or Shoplifting Classes are designed for a population of offenders who may have the addiction of stealing, who enter a plea of “guilty” or “nolo contender” (no contest) to legally-specified theft charges. The offenders are ordered to participate in a program of theft prevention or shoplifting education and basic counseling, generally for a period of about 3 – 12 months. They are also placed on probation, usually for 12-18 months, where their performance is monitored by a special Deputy Probation Officer or DPO. The DPOs monitor treatment progress, and monitor any new arrests, reporting it to the Court, and recommending potential, subsequent Court actions. Court Ordered Classes, upon participant request can provide the Probation Officer, along with the Court, Proof of Enrollment and Progress Reports for all of our enrolled participants.
Criminal Court targets usually targets these misdemeanor cases (as almost all the felony cases are heard in Superior Court). A judge is usually permanently assigned to this Court.
Unless defendants are remanded to custody, they are ordered to enroll in a certified treatment program as a reduction of their sentancing or a part of their deal. They are ordered to return to the same court within a predetermined amount of days with a Proof of Enrollment form furnished and endorsed by the certified treatment provider. Court Ordered Classes provides both you and the Court or Probation with Proof of Enrollment and Progress Reports for all of our enrolled Theft Prevention or Shoplifting class participants. Consequences of non-compliance are an extension, of not more than additional 14 days or remand to custody if no Proof of Enrollment is furnished or a bench warrant to be issued if they fail to appear as ordered.
Following Proof of Enrollment appearances, defendants appear before the same Court for progress reports at intervals to be delivered by the Court. Please remember that Court Ordered Classes provides both you and the Court with Proof of Enrollment and Progress Reports for all of our enrolled Theft Prevention or Shoplifting class participants. (The first progress report appearance is 28 days after enrollment; subsequent appearances are at the Court’s discretion, and depend on the quality of the defendant’s progress.)
Offenders satisfactorily completing probation additionally benefit by having their guilty or nolo pleas dismissed at the end of the probation term, relieving them of the legal obligation to report said conviction.
COURT REVIEWS
During the Theft Prevention or Shoplifting progress report hearings, there is sincere interchange between the Court and defendant. Good progress is always positively reinforced directly by the Court. Poor performance is negatively reinforced in various ways, ranging from verbal admonishment to incarceration. Progress report materials for the Court’s consideration include written reports from the treatment providers and written reports from the probation officer.
Once again, Court Ordered Classes, upon participant request can provide the Probation Officer, along with the Court, Proof of Enrollment and Progress Reports for all of our enrolled Theft Prevention or Shoplifting class participants.