I've been quiet about things with Judah for a reason: I didn't want to tip him off. But I have confirmation from my lawyer that he's been served, so now let's talk
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At this point, instead of. That'll get a post of its own, but basically:
* I talked to a DA who was very willing to press charges. * The DA's office began their investigation. * That DA got promoted to the Attorney General's office; I got a new DA. * New DA was not interested in investigating or pressing charges in a case of intimate partner violence, in a case where I didn't have brutal external injuries.
This is common, and I knew that going in. It's the choice of the DA to press charges or not, not the choice of the victim, and DAs get evaluated and promoted on their win records, so they are statistically unlikely to press charges when the case isn't a huge blatant thing with neon signs pointing to the evidence.
This is why only 6% of rapists are ever convicted, and over 70% of rapists are serial rapists.
If he rapes someone else in the state of Massachusetts, my data will be there, and they may bring the case then. But I do hope he doesn't.
I was recently reading about the UK's practice of civil prosecution, which allows a non-officer of the law to bring a prosecutorial case. There are judicial reviews, and rationality reviews before such civil cases can go forward, of course. The article noted that in this particular case (related to deaths at a UK football pitch where the police were charged as culpable) the prosecution did not succeed; however, the argument was made that the ability to BRING such prosecutions often brings much more comfort to victims than actual convictions because by having the opportunity to prosecute civilly they get their "day in court".
Good luck, and I'm sorry it's taking so long for all of this to work its way through the system, not to mention just getting him served. I'm fortunate that I've never been in your situation, but having worked for attorneys, things do indeed take damn near forever, especially when the defendant keeps dodging the process server.
The main thing I thought was lacking in the article you linked to is that fact that victim cannot make criminal charges, the most a victim can do is ask the DA to make criminal charges.
It's too bad the new DA isn't doing that in your case.
And also good luck with the foster care thing, if I didn't say that elsewhere!
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Best of luck.
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* I talked to a DA who was very willing to press charges.
* The DA's office began their investigation.
* That DA got promoted to the Attorney General's office; I got a new DA.
* New DA was not interested in investigating or pressing charges in a case of intimate partner violence, in a case where I didn't have brutal external injuries.
This is common, and I knew that going in. It's the choice of the DA to press charges or not, not the choice of the victim, and DAs get evaluated and promoted on their win records, so they are statistically unlikely to press charges when the case isn't a huge blatant thing with neon signs pointing to the evidence.
This is why only 6% of rapists are ever convicted, and over 70% of rapists are serial rapists.
If he rapes someone else in the state of Massachusetts, my data will be there, and they may bring the case then. But I do hope he doesn't.
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Good luck with yours.
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Good luck
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*hugs* if you'd like them...
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The main thing I thought was lacking in the article you linked to is that fact that victim cannot make criminal charges, the most a victim can do is ask the DA to make criminal charges.
It's too bad the new DA isn't doing that in your case.
And also good luck with the foster care thing, if I didn't say that elsewhere!
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