The East Central Illinois Criminal Law & DUI Weblog

There are times, usually in the domestic-battery context, when a victim does not want the government to prosecute a defendant.  The victim can ask the government to not prosecute the defendant, however, the government is not required to honor the victim’s request.  The decision whether to press charges belongs solely to the prosecutor’s office.  The prosecutor can either ignore or honor a victim’s wishes.  Charges are dismissed by prosecutors and not victims.

Jeremy Richey