Juvenile Theft Class Online

This class is for teens ages 13 to 17 who were caught taking something, often shoplifting at a store or the mall. A juvenile court, teen court, diversion program, juvenile probation officer or school may ask for one. Sometimes a store asks for a class as part of a civil demand.

This class may fit your teen if:

• The paperwork says "theft class," "shoplifting class," "juvenile theft class" or "theft prevention course."
• Your teen is in a diversion program or teen court that asks for a class about theft or choices.
• Your family wants to understand what happened, so it does not happen again.

The course does not shame your teen. One choice does not define a person.

For parents: a parent or guardian buys the course and holds the account. The course is for ages 13–17 only. The first lesson has a short part for you about how to support your teen without shaming them. We never ask for your teen's date of birth, case number or court.

Each lesson is about one hour of reading, listening and short exercises, with a quiz at the end.

1. What Happened and What Comes Next
2. Why Teens Take Things: Dares, Friends, and Fitting In
3. "Everybody Does It" and Other Thinking Errors
4. Who Really Pays
5. Saying No to Friends: Peer Pressure and Standing Your Ground
6. Stop and Think: Better Choices in the Moment
7. Wanting Things: Money, Social Media, and Waiting
8. Making It Right at Home and Building Your Plan

Your teen starts with what getting caught has already cost: at school, on the team, at a first job and at home. Then they look at why teens take things: a dare, boredom, friends, wanting the same brand as everyone else, or being mad at a parent. Next come the excuses, like "it's just a candy bar," "the store won't notice" or "my friend did it too." They practice catching those thoughts and checking them against the facts. Later lessons cover who really pays, like a classmate working a part-time job at that store. They also practice what to say when friends push, a stop-and-think method for the moment, and saving up for things they want. The last lesson ends with a Theft Prevention Plan and a plan for rebuilding trust at home.

Take the number of hours on the paperwork. If it says weeks or sessions instead of hours, ask the officer or program how many hours they need.

• A timed study log. The timer counts active time only, like reading, listening and doing exercises. It stops when your teen walks away. Hours are saved on our server, not on the phone. How the timer works →
• A quiz after each lesson and a final test that opens only after every lesson is done.

You get an enrollment letter when your teen starts, with a line for the school contact or juvenile probation officer. You also get a progress report and a certificate of completion with a certificate ID and QR code. The officer or program can check it at /verify with the certificate ID and last name. Every lesson can be read aloud with audio.

Some stores send a civil demand letter to parents after a shoplifting stop, asking for money. A court may also order restitution, which means paying back the loss. These are separate from this course. Taking a class does not change a civil demand letter or a restitution order. This is general information, not legal advice. Ask your parent, probation officer, or attorney what applies to you.

The court, program or officer decides whether a certificate counts, not us. Ask three questions, by email if you can:

1. "Will you accept an online, self-paced theft prevention class for teens?"
2. "How many hours do you need?"
3. "Does the order name a specific program or provider?"

Our page for probation officers explains how hours are logged and how to check a certificate. For more on who decides, read will a court accept an online class?