Case B. Maria DiazIdentity Theft

Maria Diaz has been placed under communitysupervision for identity theft. She pleaded guilty tostealing the identities of 14 different victims from heremployer's protected database, opening up accountsin their names, and charging merchandise in smallamounts, averaging $500.00 per victim, stealing anestimated grand total of around $7,000. She says thatshe has had significant financial difficulties and hasfiled for bankruptcy. She is 25 years old, divorced,and has no known juvenile arrest or adjudicationhistory. As an adult, she has one prior forgery chargefor which she was originally placed on probation (itwas revoked for technical violations) and assigned toa halfway house for nine months, where shesuccessfully completed her supervision. Ms. Diaz hasa high school diploma, and she has a transient jobhistory. Her employed time in the last year isestimated to be 50%. She was ordered to pay $7,000in restitution for her current offense, which she hasnot yet paid. Her divorce was finalized one year ago,and her ex-husband is nine months behind on child-support payments. She is currently living with her boyfriend, who is allegedly an undocumentedimmigrant from Mexico. She says that he "is unpredictable...I never know if he'll be home atnight or if he'll call and want me to bail him out ofjail." Due to the unstable situation with herboyfriend, in the past year, she has been moving backand forth between her sister's and her boyfriend's house. She has one 10-year-old dependent child.

Both she and her child are in good medical health.There is no evidence that alcohol or drug use wasrelated to the current offense, and Ms. Diaz has neverattended drug treatment. Her motivation to startrestitution payments is low and her attitude is bitproblematic, but it is hoped that her resistance willchange with motivational interviewing and jobtraining. There is no evidence of developmentaldisability, sexual dysfunction, or emotional problems,and Ms. Diaz does not report being on anymedications for mental or physical problems.