According to Mississippi law, any person who willfully and unlawfully takes possession of any merchandise owned, held, offered or displayed for sale by a merchant, without paying for it, is guilty of the crime of shoplifting.

If convicted of Shoplifting, for merchandise which is less than or equal to $500,  the offending party can face a fine of not more than $1,000, and/or a jail sentence of not more than six months.

In the event you are convicted of a shoplifting offense and do not learn your lesson and are convicted of shoplifting a second time, you will face penalties that match a first conviction.  However, if you are convicted a third time it will be considered a felony, which brings far more severe penalties and longer lasting consequences.