What is Shoplifting Diversion in Canada? Expert Criminal Lawyer in Mississauga & Brampton Speak

Shoplifting is a real problem for business owners all around the country. Thousands of Canadians get convicted for the act every year. We here at Bhangal Law services have defended a long list of accused over the years. Often such prosecutions are rare as the cost of prosecution for small-time thefts is way less. To solve such problems, there is an option called "diversion".

Most Criminal Lawyer in Mississauga and Brampton would suggest taking choosing diversion to avoid unnecessary expenses.

What is 'Diversion for Shoplifting'?

In most cases, the accused are first-time offenders. So, these are mostly low-value thefts that often recovered by the business itself. In most cases, the defendants are given the opportunity to participate in a diversion program. This helps to move the protection outside the legal system to be stayed or dropped entirely. Also, if the accused is found eligible for diversion, he/she is asked to take part in one of the listed programs.

But a defendant will need a Criminal Lawyer in Brampton or Mississauga to ensure the best outcome in their favor. And getting a diversion is a favorable outcome.

So what are the programs a defendant can opt for?

Accept Responsibility

To participate in a diversion program, one must admit to a staff person outside of court that you did intentionally try to take the items you were accused of shoplifting.

Make Restitution

In most cases, the shoplifted goods are recovered on the spot as soon as a person is stopped for the crime but in some circumstances, one or more of the products might not be immediately recovered.

Make a Charitable Donation

The most common demand to have a shoplifting charge withdrawn is to make a charitable donation. The size of the donation is usually a function of the value of the items stolen so the higher the value of the shoplifted goods, the higher the donation you will be asked to make will be. Donations can usually be made to any registered Canadian charity.

Do Community Service

Some courthouses or crown attorneys are uncomfortable withdrawing shoplifting charges in exchange for charitable donations. This exchange makes it appear that those who are rich enough and also willing enough to pay, can buy their way out of justice. As a result, some jurisdictions prefer that an offender complete community service instead of, or in addition to, making a charitable donation.

Write a Letter of Apology

Regardless of the age of the offender, the expectation is that a letter of apology will be genuine, written by the offender him or herself, and reflect not so much on the consequences to the offender but rather demonstrate insight of the impact of shoplifting on storeowners and consumers.

Take Counseling

Many times, shoplifting is a symptom of a deeper mental health issue often associated with self-esteem. The poor person who steals food from the local grocery store has an obvious reason for shoplifting but our office routinely sees wealthy, well-established professionals who could easily pay for the items in their cart charged with shoplifting.

Take an anti-shoplifting course. Some jurisdictions either operate their own stop-shoplifting programs or refer offenders to courses run by local charities such as the Salvation Army or the John Howard society.

So, if you ever find yourself in trouble and end up being accused of shoplifting, connecting with a Brampton or Mississauga Criminal Lawyer should be the first step. Shoplifting offenses can hurt your future badly and put forward different obstacles from with time. For services of reputed and reliable Mississauga or Brampton Criminal Lawyer feel free to contact us anytime.

This unique article is written by Kathlin Smith. I am a professional content writer having years of experience in writing articles and blogs on different issues.