Theft: precomplaint education program.

Under existing law, grand theft is the theft of anything of a value exceeding $950, with exceptions, and is punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony. All other theft is petty theft and is punished as a misdemeanor, with exceptions. Under existing law, a first conviction for petty theft involving merchandise, as defined, taken from the premises of a merchant, as defined, is punishable by a mandatory fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000 for each violation, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. In lieu of the fine, existing law authorizes the court to require the defendant to perform designated public services, as…