Probably yes. Rhode Island retailers frequently send civil recovery demand letters to shoplifting defendants separately from the criminal case. These letters typically demand several hundred dollars beyond the actual merchandise value, citing state statutes that allow retailers to recover their loss prevention costs. The civil demand is technically separate from the criminal restitution and is not enforced through the criminal court. Whether to pay the civil demand depends on the strength of the underlying claim and your overall legal strategy. An experienced defense lawyer can advise on coordinating the criminal and civil tracks, which sometimes means negotiating both together for better overall outcomes.
