Hackensack, New Jersey – Adam M. Lustberg, a respected criminal defense attorney in Bergen County and founder of Lustberg Law Offices, LLC (https://www.lustberglaw.com/blog/is-shoplifting-a-misdemeanor/), is drawing attention to the serious legal and personal consequences of shoplifting charges in New Jersey. While many perceive shoplifting as a minor or juvenile offense, communities across North Jersey, particularly retail centers in and around Hackensack and Paramus, treat these allegations with significant gravity under state law.
As a criminal defense attorney in Bergen County, Mr. Lustberg regularly represents individuals charged with shoplifting in busy retail hubs such as Garden State Plaza, Riverside Square Mall, and Paramus Park. New Jersey does not classify crimes as misdemeanors or felonies in the traditional sense. Instead, the state uses the terms “disorderly persons offenses” and “indictable offenses,” which are graded by degree and tied directly to the full retail value of the allegedly stolen merchandise. Even lower-level shoplifting incidents, when charged as a disorderly persons offense, can lead to up to six months in jail, probation, fines, and mandatory community service, with higher-value cases carrying the possibility of multi-year prison sentences.
Beyond the immediate penalties, Mr. Lustberg emphasizes that shoplifting charges handled by a criminal defense attorney in Bergen County can have lasting ramifications on an individual’s record and future. Shoplifting is considered a crime of moral turpitude, which can affect immigration status for non-citizens, jeopardize professional licenses, limit employment opportunities, and damage credibility in future legal matters. Repeat offenses trigger increasingly severe sanctions, including a mandatory 90-day jail sentence upon a third conviction, regardless of the value of the items involved.
Lustberg Law Offices, LLC also notes that Bergen County courts, including the Bergen County Justice Center and the Family Division in Hackensack, process a high volume of shoplifting cases involving both adults and juveniles. Juvenile matters may be directed to rehabilitative programs associated with the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center, yet still result in significant consequences, including civil damages, fines, detention, and a juvenile record that can impact future proceedings.
In addition to traditional shoplifting allegations, Mr. Lustberg’s practice frequently addresses organized retail theft and possession of shoplifting devices. Under New Jersey law, coordinated theft schemes involving two or more participants and merchandise exceeding statutory thresholds can be charged as second or third-degree indictable offenses. Possession of tools such as security tag removers, demagnetizers, or devices intended to circumvent store security, even without an actual theft, can result in criminal charges as a disorderly persons offense.
The firm further advises that first-time defendants may, in appropriate cases, explore diversionary options such as Pretrial Intervention for indictable offenses or Conditional Dismissal for disorderly persons offenses. Successful completion of these programs can allow eligible individuals to avoid a formal conviction and mitigate long-term consequences. Careful case evaluation, challenges to surveillance evidence, questioning of witness identification, and scrutiny of search and seizure procedures often form the core of an effective defense strategy.
About Lustberg Law Offices, LLC:
Lustberg Law Offices, LLC is a New Jersey-based criminal defense firm led by Adam M. Lustberg, a criminal defense attorney in Bergen County who represents adults and juveniles in a wide range of criminal matters. The firm handles cases involving shoplifting and retail theft, drug offenses, assault, weapons charges, DWI, and other indictable and disorderly persons offenses throughout Bergen County and across North Jersey, including Hackensack, Paramus, and Fort Lee. Known for thorough preparation and strategic advocacy, the firm focuses on protecting clients’ rights at every stage of the criminal process. For more information or to schedule a confidential consultation, individuals may contact Lustberg Law Offices, LLC by telephone or visit the firm’s website.
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Company Name: Lustberg Law Offices, LLC
Contact Person: Adam M. Lustberg
Email: Send Email
Phone: (201) 880-5311
Address:One University Plaza Dr Suite 212
City: Hackensack
State: New Jersey 07601
Country: United States
Website: https://www.lustberglaw.com/