Legal Question in Criminal Law in Ohio

No prosecutor Help for Crime Victim

If you are a victim of theft and your local police investigate and file felony theft charges against the offender with the local prosecutor and the Asst. prosecutor sends the paper work back to the police for them to obtain a statement from the offender. But the offender knows they committed this crime and already believes that there is an arrest warrant out for them and is in hiding and has no intentions of having any contact with the police! Does this mean that if the police can't obtain a statement, the prosecutor isn't going to charge and prosecute the offender? Who can the crime victim turn to have their legal rights upheld and the offender held accountable and prosecuted? Is there some appeal process that the victim can still go though to obtain justice for the criminal act committed against them? And is there another higher agency that the victim can still petition for resolve of the crime committed against them?


Asked on 11/25/05, 2:56 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Timothy Hess T. Hess & Associates, LLC

Re: No prosecutor Help for Crime Victim

Continue your contact with the prosecutor and you interest in persuing the case. They do not have to have a statement to charge the suspect.

You might also be able to file qa claim with the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation fund, depending on the circumstances of the crime.

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Answered on 11/26/05, 2:58 pm
Joseph Jacobs Jacobs & Lowder

Re: No prosecutor Help for Crime Victim

It's the prosecutor's choice as to when to file, whether to file, and with how much evidence. HE does not have to wait for a statement. Stay on him, respectfully, so he does not lose interest.

You can always sue the offender civilly, to return the lost money item or money for it. How long has it been since this happened??

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Answered on 11/25/05, 1:41 pm


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