Abstract: A system and method for preventing retail loss is described. The method includes offering a civil remedy in lieu of criminal prosecution to a suspect involved in theft of merchandise; capturing the suspect's information; verifying the suspect's information through a comparison with a database; obtaining an admission of guilt to the theft from the suspect; providing the suspect with life correcting coursework designed to prevent future occurrences of theft by the suspect; and foregoing criminal prosecution of the suspect for the theft upon the suspect's completion of the coursework.