What is the name of your state? ny 
My daughter, who is 17, was cited for shoplifting a $49 shirt at JC Pennys. The security brought her to a room and had her admit to it. He called the cops and after waiting for a couple of hours for him to arrive, was cited for petit larceny and asked to appear in court in a couple of months. She's never had any arrests, tickets, etc., and is a good kid who made a stupid mistake. I think she may have shoplifted in the past a few times, got away with it, and did it again on a whim. She can't explain why, she has a job and is an honor student, etc., etc. My question is, since she's 17 and has never been in trouble, what can we expect? Will there be a fine, probation? I don't know what to expect and am concerned about how this could affect her future. Will it be on her permanent record? She's been already accepted into a college, and has others pending. Is this something that will haunt her? Thanks for any advice.
My daughter, who is 17, was cited for shoplifting a $49 shirt at JC Pennys. The security brought her to a room and had her admit to it. He called the cops and after waiting for a couple of hours for him to arrive, was cited for petit larceny and asked to appear in court in a couple of months. She's never had any arrests, tickets, etc., and is a good kid who made a stupid mistake. I think she may have shoplifted in the past a few times, got away with it, and did it again on a whim. She can't explain why, she has a job and is an honor student, etc., etc. My question is, since she's 17 and has never been in trouble, what can we expect? Will there be a fine, probation? I don't know what to expect and am concerned about how this could affect her future. Will it be on her permanent record? She's been already accepted into a college, and has others pending. Is this something that will haunt her? Thanks for any advice.