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The Shoplifters Alternative Course (SA
Course) helps offenders identify the feelings, thoughts
and actions which led them to shoplift and helps them
make better choices for themselves and their future.
The program was designed to reduce shoplifter recidivism
and to help prevent their further penetration into the
criminal justice system.
Whether it is a defendant's "first" offense
or repeat offense, and whether they stole a $50 sweater
or a 50 cent candy bar, offenders will benefit from
the comprehensive education provided by the SA Course. |
Two Educational Study Methods:
The Court/Agency may choose to use the Home Study
Program alone, or a combination of Home Study and
Class. The Home Study Program is a complete program
in itself which provides all the essential learning
materials (on Compact Discs) in a consistent, high
quality format. It is also a preresquisite to the
optional Class/Workshop Program, designed for adults
"at risk", which focuses on program reinforcement
through group interaction.
SA has chosen the home study and class educational
model because research has shown that retention levels
among participants are commonly 25%-30% higher with
the home study program, when compared to those who
receive the same information in a class setting only. |
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| Consists of 5-6 hours of "offense-specific"
education with CD's and workbook. |
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Educational Topics Include:
- The underlying reason people shoplift
- How shoplifting effects the lives of real people
(not just stores)
- The truth about the law and its consequences
- Security technology used in stores
- How much they risk for a small reward
- How their personal and social pressures can trigger
a shoplifting incident
- The "rush" or "high" that
people experience from "getting away with it"
and the damage it does
- How shoplifting can become a habit or an addiction
- How to stop shoplifting now and for the rest of
their lives
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| Full day interactive workshop with
10-12 offenders and a trained facilitator. |
Educational
Topics Include Each Offender's:
- Shoplifting experience
- Feelings when caught
- Consequences when caught
- Motivations for stealing
- Stresses and problems
- Risks and rewards
- Critical danger signals
- Plan to stop shoplifting
- At the end of the class, each participant meets
privately with the instructor to receive individual
feedback, review personal issues and identify the
possible need for additional support services
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Participants experience a range of emotions
as they go through the SA Course; from initial resistance
and denial, to concern about what they might become, to
gratitude that someone really cares, to resolve to take
greater responsibility for their behavior.
96% of participants successfully complete the SA Course
nationally.
Recidivism rates
average 2.9% annually, with participants giving the SA
Course an average grade of 95% regarding its usefulness
to them.
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