I got caught shoplifting, I wasn’t arrested. I paid for the fine of the items and said there might be a court date

It is impossible to say without more information. You should set up a consultation with an attorney.

Impossible to say. It depends on the value of the property you allegedly stole, your prior record, where the offense occurred and more. Consult with an attorney directly to review these questions and get a better answer to your questions.

There likely will be a court date at some point but you really should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area for help with this question.

You paid a "fine"? To who? Why?
If you get a ticket in the mail---hire a local criminal defense attorney ASAP.

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The real penalty, with life-altering implications, is a potential public record of conviction labeling the person as a known "thief." A good goal would be to try to prevent a conviction. Contact a criminal defense attorney about that.