Most Atlanta shoplifting cases begin in the Atlanta Municipal Court. The judge, Calvin S. Graves can hand out tough sentences in shoplifting cases. First-time offenders may be eligible for pretrial intervention. However, defendants who do not get into pretrial intervention or fail to complete this program can get lengthy jail sentences.
Every defendant charged with shoplifting in the Atlanta Municipal Court can transfer their case to the Fulton County State Court by requesting a jury trial. This will create an additional, internet accessible record of your charge. However, this may be advisable in serious and repeat cases where Calvin S. Graves is likely to impose a substantial jail time.