What will my punishment be as a first offender for shoplifting?

Plead NOT guilty. Get a lawyer. See if they can work out a deal for no criminal conviction on your record. A criminal conviction stays on your record FOREVER, if not expunged. To expunge a conviction you have to wait at least 5 years and it is in the discretion of the judge. What employer wants to hire a thief?

Depending on the amount allegedly stolen and the jurisdiction where the event occurred, shoplifting can be met with a mere citation (infraction), or charged as a misdemeanor or even a felony, with possible jail sentences of 6 months to 3 years. It will be up to the D.A. to determine how the crime will be charged. For a first time offense, probation and a fine are good possibilities. I suggest that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you and get you the best deal possible.

In Washington, you committed a gross misdemeanor with a sentencing range of 364 days in jail and $5,000 fine. As a first offense, you will likely be sentenced to attend a consumer awareness class, do community service, pay a fine, pay restitution, stay away from the store and be on probation for one year. You will also have to pay a civil fine to the store. At the arraignment, you can apply to see if you qualify for a public defender. If you do not, then you must decide whether you want representation. You should see if the is a Diversion Program you can enter. If not, try for a Stipulated Order of Continuance (SOC). Under the Diversion and SOC, after you have completed the terms of your sentencing the charge is dropped and you would not have a criminal record. All other sentencing, does require that you expunge your record after you have completed the terms of your sentence. You are correct that the theft charge will have an adverse impact on you when you apply for an apartment, job or loan.

It is always good to have an attorney when charged with a crime whether its court appointed or retained. Most jurisdictions offer diversion programs for first offenders which would keep the matter of your public record. while jail is a possibility, it is probably not very likely. At worst you are probably realistically facing a minor misdemeanor on your record and probation. Consult with an experienced criminal attorney in your area as most do not charge for an initial consultation.

You may be eligible for a diversion program where you the charges will be dropped and then you can expunge.

Diversion. You should always have an attorney if you can afford it.

You should definitely retain a lawyer to ensure you don't have any valid defenses to the charges, and to ensure that you plead in such a way to preserve your criminal record. First offenders have many opportunities to keep their record clean, with the right lawyer negotiating on their behalf. Also, please ensure you request an Expungement of your record 5 years after the date of your sentencing, to provide a deeper "cleaning" of your criminal record.