The Shoplifting Program is designed to explore the personal, legal, and social ramifications of illegal theft behavior under ARS § 1805. The program is structured to help defendants to understand and appreciate the laws governing their behavior, to identify the stressful and problem areas in their lives that frequently contribute to petty theft, to discover new tools for making positive change and to resolve the problems that may have contributed to the shoplifting behavior. In most cases, the individual will be forced to recognize the consequences of further shoplifting behavior. The low two percent recidivism rate based on a ten (10) year study of the Scottsdale Shoplifting Program has shown these steps to be effective in preventing additional shoplifting and theft behavior.

Participants in the Justice Services' Shoplifting Program receive valuable information about misdemeanor theft. The clients are made aware of their own values, life goals, and other immediate and long-term stress factors through lectures and therapeutic group discussions. This information is presented in a non-judgmental fashion, allowing participants to make informed decisions about their future behavior.

The Justice Services' staff of counselors and educators bring a wealth of training and experience to assist the participants in learning to accept the responsibilities for, and consequences of, their actions. The group process provides the clients with insight into value systems, self-improvement, and goal setting.

Shoplifting Program Components
Personal Responsibility	Stress Skills
Consequences of Behavior	Assertive Training
Long & Short-Term Goal-Setting	Guidelines for Self-Improvement
Wants vs. Needs	Value Systems
Guidelines for Income Budgeting	Improved Self-Esteem

The Shoplifting Program is a six (6) hour program. The classes can be attended in one (1) six-hour or two (2) three-hour sessions. Information about and referral to community resources is provided.

Justice Services offers a theft program under ARS § 13-1802 which covers the curriculum covered in the shoplifting program, but is considerably more comprehensive. The cognitive/behavioral therapeutic program is designed for the more serious offender with repeated theft or other criminal convictions. This offender does not meet the profile of the “typical” shoplifter, and needs a more in-depth treatment program. This program additionally deals with the impact of alcohol and drug abuse and the problems of habitual offenders.