Will I go to jail for shoplifting in D.C.?

It is extremely unlikely that anyone but the most habitual offender will serve jail time for shoplifting in D.C. This is particularly true during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why am I charged with Theft II when I was arrested for shoplifting?

People who are arrested for shoplifting in Washington, D.C. are often surprised to find themselves charged with “theft II” when they show up for court.
Owens v. United States: The Standard for Defining State-of-Mind in an RSP Case is a Subjective One
In law school, we learned the difference between a subjective standard in defining a mental state and an objective one. The subjective standard focuses on the defendant’s actual state of mind. With the objective standard, it is how… Read More