Speak Up! - View Question #604

« LawForKids.org home page | « Go back to speak up question #604

Question: What would the punishment be for burglary of a small store?

Answer: In Arizona burglary of a commercial building, such as a store, is a class 4 felony. The size of the store or the amount of stuff that you took, or tried to take does not matter.

In adult court, the punishment can range from probation, to 1 - 15 years in prison, depending on the circumstances and the defendant's prior criminal history.

In juvenile court, the sentence, or punishment could be probation or prison. Probation could include placement outside your home in a foster home or a treatment center, detention, community service work, fines, counseling, drug testing, and school attendance among other things. If you have a history of juvenile delinquency, you could be placed on Intensive Probation or sent to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC). If the Judge sentences you to ADJC, he or she may tell you how long you have to stay, such as 6 months, or a year or until you are 18. However, once you are sent to ADJC, they will make the final decision as to how long you have to stay after the time the judge said you were eligible for release. ADJC has control over you until you turn 18, and if you are released from ADJC, you will be on parole until you're 18. The Judge can also order you to pay restitution for any damages you may have caused when you broke in - and for any item you took which were not returned in their original condition.

If, as a juvenile, you have prior felony convictions, and get convicted of the burglary, then Intensive Probation is mandatory, and juvenile prison is a real possibility. If the burglary is your third felony, then you will be sent to adult court and tried there, and would be subject to the adult penalties.


Comments
1 thru 5 of 9 comments
On 11/19/08
MELODY from CA said:
I WENT TO JAIL FOR Commercial Burglary AND THEY TOOK ME TO A HOLDING CELL.. FOR 1 NITE AND THE LET ME GO ON A MINOSTER HOW EVER YOU SPELL IT AND I GO TO COURT NEXT MONTH ON THE 3RD AND I AM REALLY SCAED I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO JAIL BEFORE I AM FULL TIME STUDENT I JUST MADE BAD CHOSES.. AND I HAVE NOTHING ON MY RECORD
On 08/05/08
tyoung from NC said:
if it is your first felony the punishment should'nt be so harsh
On 07/20/08
nicole from AR said:
My cuzn just went to jail I THINK for commercial burglary andi was wondering how long he had to get out plz
On 03/05/06
from AL said:
if you do the crime you should do the time
On 11/10/03
Sage from NY said:
I saw video footage on TV where a guy tried to rob a fried chicken franchise with a golf club. While the robber was threatening, one of the staff ran up behind him and hit him with a chair, and he went down. The staff ran up to him and started beating him, but he managed to get up and start to flee. However, as he started to flee, someone threw hot oil on his back. He fled the store in considerable pain.
1 thru 5 of 9 comments



Read more about the law and Violence
Related Stories
Related Laws
« LawForKids.org home page | « Go back to speak up question #604