Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

If the amount stolen in retail theft exceeds 300 dollars, what charge is applicable?

1. Misdemeanor theft

2. Felony theft

3. Class A misdemeanor

4. Class 4 felony

The correct answer is: Felony theft

When the amount stolen in retail theft exceeds 300 dollars, the applicable charge is felony theft. This designation is rooted in the value of the property taken, which often serves as a threshold for categorizing the severity of theft offenses. In many jurisdictions, theft that surpasses a specific monetary amount is classified as a felony due to the higher impact and potential for greater harm associated with larger theft amounts. Felony theft typically carries more severe penalties than misdemeanor charges, including longer prison sentences and higher fines. This system is designed to reflect the seriousness of the crime according to the value of the stolen goods. If the theft were under the set threshold, it might be classified as a misdemeanor, which generally results in less severe consequences. Understanding these classifications helps in recognizing how legal systems differentiate between various severity levels of theft based on the amount involved.