"Thank you so much.  I love Offender Solutions® for my offenders.  The website is easy, affordable and I appreciate the certificate being forward to me and the client.  Thanks so much for all your efforts and helping us help those in need.  Margaret"

 

Shoplifting / Theft / Petty Larceny

Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. It has a big impact on every business owner (large and small) and every consumer. It results in higher prices for consumers and reduced purchase power; decreased retail store profit and survivability; and through store closings, subsequent retail employee job losses.

The 2009 shoplifting statistics are staggering. Nationwide, shoplifting is one of the most common criminal charges among juveniles and adults alike. The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention reports that 1 in 11 Americans shoplift, 75 percent adults, 25 percent under the age of 18. It is estimated that 615,000 shoplifting incidences occur every day in the United States. CBS News reports shoplifting to costs stores $35 million every day.

CNN reports store thefts increased in 2009 for the first time in six years with over $36 billion lost. Shoplifters neglect to consider the impact they have on retailers' bottom line and subsequent increased costs for everyone at the register. To help pay for losses, enhanced security with surveillance and loss prevention personnel, shoppers can expect these increased security costs to be passed on in price increases as theft rates (and costs) continue to rise. National statistics show shoplifting rates escalating during the holiday season and into the New Year, a critical time when retailers normally expect to account for up to 50 percent of their total annual sales.

The Global Retail Theft Barometer 2010 reports "One year after the sharp 2009 spike in shrinkage, shrinkage has fallen by -5.6% as retailers put almost 10% more funds into security and loss prevention. Total global shrinkage (stock loss from crime or waste expressed as a percentage of retail sales) cost retailers and the public US$ 107.3 billion , equivalent to 1.36% of their retail sales." Further, they report that global cost of crime per family (household) was $185.59. More Key Findings from the Global Retail Theft Barometer 2010

Offender Solutions® Referrals

Who is appropriate to refer to an Offender Solutions® class? Of course you can refer any person you would like. However, as a guideline, we suggest you think of Offender Solutions® for offenders who are "average", typical or first time offenders. As you well know, we are more likely to be successful with the less hardened, serious or chronic offenders. (Though we actually like working with the high risk and/or chronic offender.) We try to make all of our materials readable at the 5th grade level.

Making a referral? This is a subject we know something about. With our experience in the field of parole and probation we know that making a referral is all too often more work than is necessary. We promise to make it easy.

To the right of this screen are two buttons available so you can download our referral form. (Feel free to use the Microsoft Word or the Adobe Acrobat pdf form - they print the same document).

Simply download the referral form, print, cut and hand it to the offender.

Easy enough?

Print or Download our Referral Form

Print or Download our Spanish Referral Form

Confirming Client Completion

  • When the offender completes the class they are issued a Completion Certificate to present to you.
  • Feel free to contact Offender Solutions® to confirm client completion or status.
  • Ask Offender Solutions® to send a Certificate of Completion directly to you, (mail, email or FAX). Our Certificates of Completion are extremely difficult to duplicate. For additional security, if we mal it to you, it is always embossed with our logo.
  • Ask your client any of 10 questions to confirm s/he was the one who took the class. Contact Offender SolutionsT for a copy of "Ten Questions", with answers. (This is protected information - identity confirmation required.). info@offendersolutions.com
  • Offender Solutions® asks a security question and obtains an answer to validate client identity and, at random times contacts the clients to confirm the secuirty answer. You can ask our security question too. Contact Offender Solutions® to obtain the security question and answer. (This is protected information - identity confirmation required.) info@offendersolutions.com

Evidence Based Research

David Royse and Steven Buck, in Journal of Offender Rehabilitation published "Evaluating a Diversion Program for First-Time Shoplifters". They found that 4% of the people who comple a diversion program reoffend and, equally as importantly, that 25% of the peopl who do not complete a diversion program reoffend. (v17 n1-2 p147-58 1991). Such a staggering difference is remarkable.

What doesen't work?
: Edward Latessa, Ph.D. Center for Criminal Justice Research says, "Most researchers who study correctional interventions have concluded without some form of human intervention or services there is unlikely to be much effect on recidivism from punishment alone." Further, "Not a single reviewer of studies of the effects of official punishment alone (custody, mandatory arrests, increased surveillance, etc.) has found consistent evidence of reduced recidivism."

Using research and evidence based interventions is essential, not only to demonstrate the effectiveness of our programs but also, ethically. Our position is that we have a mission critical responsibility to provide the best, evidence based services possible.

What does work?: The research community and virtually all of the relevant journals, overwhelming demonstrate the Offender Solutions® curricula which: a) uses education and, b) follows a cognitive restructuring or cognitive behavior modification model, will provide statistically significant change (results).

Simply stated, Offender Solutions® maintains a fundamental belief that all clients must be treated respectfully and are seeking a better life. Our approach is to help them assess their own attitudes, values and beliefs. The research indicates that the Offender Solutions® cognitive model develops an awareness that results in an attitude change and subsequent pro-social beliefs and behaviors. The data also shows that these changes occur across male and female, juvenile and adult and among low, medium and high risk offenders.

Offender Solutions®, as an agency, has a research, criminal justice and counseling psychology background. All staff are supervised by a Masters level Counseling Psychologist. We are comprised of staff and consultants from a variety of disciplines including parole, probation, psychology, social work, counseling, corrections, and a research analyst.

P.S. Please read our client testimonials our testimonials page.

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987) ,
The Philosophy of Andy Warhol

 

 

 

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Last Updated: February 29, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Taking a theft class, theft course or attending a theft school can be a very helpful way to guide your life away from stealing, shoplifting or other theft behaviors which in the short run are very appealing. But, in the long run a life as a theft offender, a life of stealing, shoplifting etc., is one which leads to a dissatisfied and unfulfilled life. Certainly some people are down and out and, as such, feel the need to steal, shoplift, or commit some other form of theft but let me say... there are always options which work better than stealing. Think about your options - there are always options to stealing, shoplifting or other forms of theft. A theft class / theft course or shoplifting class can help!

Take a theft class from Offender Solutions®. Get started on a better life - now!

A Really Good Choice

Offender Solutions® Inc is a convenient way to complete a Court, School or Diversion required theft / shoplifting program


Offender Solutions® Inc.

A USA Corporation

Our Philosophy

Change your thoughts and
you change your world.

~ Norman Vincent Peale
(1898-1993)