re: #462 klys

I agree.

Forgive if this is disjointed, that final really didn’t make me happy. But it’s done, at least.

If more of the ability to press charges and put forward restraining orders/felony charges/whatever was less dependent on the engagement of the victim, I think we would see more consequences in the area of DV in particular. But as long as the abuser can get to the victim and convince them to withdraw charges/the order/whatever, from a legal perspective, the system’s hands are tied.

And I think it would be lying to say that some abusers don’t get a high off of that; it’s proving their power not over just the victim but over the system as a whole, their ability to skirt the consequences of their actions.

I don’t think it’s the victim’s fault that this area is so murky; I definitely think there are things we could do as a society to make the system less subject to the influence of the abuser.

I think that is changing in some areas. I seem to remember the Police Office and the District Attorney saying that at some point the Justice Department in our state (IL) can circumvent the victim/survivor and pursue charges. If they deem the perpertrator is a danger to society or whatever.

I have to look at my notes, but I remember thinking it was a good thing.
I don’t know if it was under Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault laws. The two are separate areas under the law.