Clinical assessment and intervention with shoplifters

Community, corporate, and judicial interest in ways of effectively curtailing shoplifting has been heightened as the proliferation of large shopping malls has created increased opportunities for theft-related offenses. Research demonstrates that shoplifting often results from a variety of psychosocial problems experienced by otherwise law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, services for convicted shoplifters often are limited to attending financial planning seminars and brief court-ordered supervision sessions. This article presents a typology for differential assessment of and intervention with shoplifters. The model, developed from over 10 years of clinical practice and research, identifies five major categories under which client motivation can be classified: entitlement, addictions, peer pressure, stress, and impulsiveness. Requisite social work knowledge and skills for addressing this costly social problem are addressed.