4 ms·

That is why they are suing rather than pressing charges. When someone steals your car you don't sue them you press charges. When someone doesn't uphold their

That is why they are suing rather than pressing charges. When someone steals your car you don't sue them you press charges. When someone doesn't uphold their end of a contract you don't press charges you sue for breach of contract.

compsciphd 4y ago
in reality, you as an individual can't press charges. Only the state can. And many times the state chooses not to. You can sue in civil court, but individuals can't bring cases in criminal court.
- closewith 4y ago
  Many countries do have the concept of private criminal prosecutions.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- onionisafruit 4y ago
  You are confusing pressing charges and indictment. Pressing charges just means you accuse somebody of a crime and “press” the prosecutor to indict them. So the state does have the ultimate say on who is prosecuted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t press charges.
sneak 4y ago
"pressing charges" isn't a thing.
- onionisafruit 4y ago
  It is a thing. In America pressing charges is when you accuse somebody of a crime and ask a prosecutor to bring criminal charges against them.
  - sneak 4y ago
    Prosecutors exclusively decide who is charged. No charges can be "pressed" by a victim.
    - onionisafruit 4y ago
      Yes, in most cases it is the prosecutor's discretion whether to bring a case to a grand jury, but that isn't what pressing charges is. See Merriam Webster's definition[0]. [0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges
- stonemetal12 4y ago
  As far as I am aware it isn't a specific thing, but a general catchall term for going through the process of filing a criminal complaint, and seeing it through to completion. Maybe there is better words for it but "pressing charges" is what they use on TV so it is top of mind. In general I meant there is a difference between criminal and civil law, and suing generally refers to civil not criminal law.

compsciphd 4y ago

in reality, you as an individual can't press charges. Only the state can. And many times the state chooses not to. You can sue in civil court, but individuals can't bring cases in criminal court.

closewith 4y ago
Many countries do have the concept of private criminal prosecutions.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
onionisafruit 4y ago
You are confusing pressing charges and indictment. Pressing charges just means you accuse somebody of a crime and “press” the prosecutor to indict them. So the state does have the ultimate say on who is prosecuted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t press charges.

sneak 4y ago

"pressing charges" isn't a thing.

onionisafruit 4y ago
It is a thing. In America pressing charges is when you accuse somebody of a crime and ask a prosecutor to bring criminal charges against them.
- sneak 4y ago
  Prosecutors exclusively decide who is charged. No charges can be "pressed" by a victim.
  - onionisafruit 4y ago
    Yes, in most cases it is the prosecutor's discretion whether to bring a case to a grand jury, but that isn't what pressing charges is. See Merriam Webster's definition[0]. [0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges
stonemetal12 4y ago
As far as I am aware it isn't a specific thing, but a general catchall term for going through the process of filing a criminal complaint, and seeing it through to completion. Maybe there is better words for it but "pressing charges" is what they use on TV so it is top of mind. In general I meant there is a difference between criminal and civil law, and suing generally refers to civil not criminal law.