INDIANA – An anti-shoplifting program developed by Corrective Education Company (“CEC”) and implemented by Walmart at 36 Indiana locations created legal issues and questions that sparked a review by the Indiana Attorney General.

That review and the Attorney General’s concerns, has caused Walmart to voluntarily agree to discontinue the program.

The Attorney General’s Office began its review of the CEC program following a request for a legal opinion by Tippecanoe County Prosecuting Attorney Pat Harrington. Harrington reported his concerns that the CEC agreements employed by Walmart in Tippecanoe County were “private” agreements to relinquish law enforcement action, which Harrington believed to be inappropriate and contrary to law.

The Attorney General’s office determined that Walmart  was offering to forgo contacting the police in exchange for suspects agreeing to enter into the CECprogram. Indiana law is clear on the manner and authority in which retailers may lawfully detain shoplifting suspects and law enforcement’s role in that process.