What is the punishment for shoplifting for the first time?

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. I suggest that you find a way to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent her and get her the best deal possible. There is also the alternative of having her represented by the Public Defender's Office, if she qualifies financially. Unfortunately, any conviction will appear on her record.

Jail should be the least of her concerns. Petty theft is a crime of moral turpitude, and if convicted she can kiss her school/career aspirations goodbye. She needs to hire a lawyer before she gets duped into a plea that she will regret for life.

She will not go to jail. She can screen for a public defender to handle her case. She will likely be sentence to attend a consumer awareness class, do community service, pay a fine, stay away from the store, have no further criminal violations, and be on probation for one year. She may have to expunge her record after probation, since it will show on all background checks.

She needs and attorney and to make every attempt to keep this off of her record, it can follow her for the rest of her life.