There are have been several references on this forum about how if you shoplift less than $950 in California it’s only a misdemeanor. In one of them NorCalGreg says the offender merely gets a ticket, which they usually ignore.
Here are the actual facts. Prior to 2015 there was no shoplifting crime in California. Stealing from a business by walking out with unpaid merchandise was charged as burglary regardless of the amount. So nobody changed shoplifting from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Just because it’s a misdemeanor doesn’t mean there are no consequences. If convicted you can spend up to six months in jail, you are subject to a $1,000 fine and you are required to pay restitution. If the amount stolen is worth more than $950 the more serious felony charges apply.
https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/penal-code/459-5/
There have been a lot of articles about a surge in shoplifting in San Francisco. The odd thing is shoplifting numbers have been trending down since 1985. From 750 per 100,000 in 1985 to 400 per 100,000 in 2008 to 198 per 100,000 last year.
Also the change in classification from felony to misdemeanor occurred not because the legislature passed a law. It did, but the law was passed in response to Proposition 47, which passed 60-40
