As assistant manager of a discount department store, you have been asked to review the store's policy concerning shoplifters. (a) Discuss the legal standard used in most states governing the detention of suspected shoplifters. (b) In reviewing the store's policy, discuss some of the items that you will consider

a) Generally, a store may detain a customer for alleged shoplifting provided there is a reasonable basis for the suspicion and the detention is done reasonably.

b) Some of the items that should be considered include: what is a "reasonable" suspicion of shoplifting; what is "reasonable" detention; how private should the detention be; how can bias and prejudice be avoided; and how much questioning should the store do.