Abuse Using Technology

If there is a violation of criminal law, the district attorney, county attorney, or attorney general would be the one to file criminal charges for the crime committed against you. A criminal case usually starts with a call to 911 or filing a police report at the police station. Then the police should investigate and determine if there is “probable cause” to make an arrest. Prosecutors then look at whether there is enough evidence to prosecute. If so, the case will proceed through the criminal court process and may end up going to trial or the defendant agreeing to a plea bargain. 

It’s important to remember that in a criminal case, the parties on the case are the state, represented by the prosecutor, and the defendant. The victim is not a party to the case. So, if you later decide that you want to “drop the charges,” the prosecutor does not have to honor your request. This is because s/he is not “your attorney” but rather is an attorney advocating for the state’s interests. You could express your wishes to the prosecutor but it is ultimately up to him or her whether to continue the case or not.