Legal Question in Criminal Law in Washington

my sister was beat up

My sixteen year old sister was set up by three

girls, all of which are over the ages of 18. They

picked her up to go hang out and she was okay with

that because she thought that they were her

friends. They ended up taking her behind a church

and beating on her head for a number of minutes.

Then they left her there to fend for herself. She

walked out to the main road where one of her

friends was driving by and they gave her a ride

home. After she arrived home our step mother took

her to the hospital and she was told that she had

a minor concussion. After my father arrived they

went to the police station to file a police report

and see if they could press charges. They were

told no. If anyone was going to press charges it

would be the state. How does that make any

sense?? She was assaulted by these girls

therefore she has every right to press charges, at

least she should. Can you xplain to me what she

does have the right to do? Thank you!!


Asked on 4/28/00, 7:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Bonnie Selby Bonnie J. Selby, Attorney at Law

Re: my sister was beat up

As a KS prosecutor, sounds like everyone needs to begin anew. You all need to take a deep breath and if you have not presented law enforcement with a written report of the incident by your sister, do so. Be thorough. . .names, dates, times, what exactly occurred. Law enforcement must then investigate the incident based upon the information you have given. They then present any written statements received together with the results of their investigation to your local prosecutor. The decision to file charges and what charges to file lie with that office; just be certain that office knows how to reach your family throughout the process. Procedures may differ somewhat in WA, however, basically they are the same. Be patient and don't give up.

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Answered on 6/13/00, 9:15 pm


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