Shoplifting in Rhode Island can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of the merchandise and the defendant's prior record. For most first-time offenders stealing low-dollar items, shoplifting is charged as a misdemeanor in Rhode Island District Court and carries up to one year in jail and fines that commonly range into the hundreds or low thousands of dollars. When merchandise value is high enough to trigger grand larceny treatment under Rhode Island law, or when the defendant has prior shoplifting convictions, the state can charge felony retail theft in Superior Court. Felony exposure includes potential state prison time, larger fines, longer probation, and permanent collateral damage to employment and immigration status. A Rhode Island shoplifting lawyer can often negotiate felony allegations down to misdemeanor treatment when the value is disputable.