Can I file an assult report or complaint with out pressing charges in NJ?

Question

In short: a family friend is bipolar, not taking meds, and using drugs. He came to the house this weekend, was drunk, and became violent. He did not hit me, but grabbed me several times, and I now have bruises on my arm. (this happened late sat night).

I took photos of them yesterday, and they are worse today so I will take them again.

This person is going to jail for something unrelated in about 6 weeks. I don't really want to go through with pressing charges, but I was wondering if I can file a complaint/report with my local PD in NJ. I want it on file in case something happens again.

And I know, people like this should not be in my life. But we all have one black sheep around us.... and he will never be around me again.

thanks, a jersey girl

Answer 1

People are under the false impression that when you go to the police 'and want it documented in case it happened again' that amounts to jack-****.

You can't do anything with it because no arrest was made. What? Let's say 6 months later you're thumped up by this person. You can get the old report where you did nothing and the court will not even entertain it because you failed to pursue a complaint.

So let it go and don't bother unless you intend to press charges. other than that you're wasting the time of the police and yours as well.

Answer 2

NO YOU CAN'T FILE AN ASSAULT report or police report without filing a complaint. What is the use of filing a police report if you are not pressing charges.

Taking photo's of your own bruises is one but having a medical report is much better than photograph. YOU MAY ASK WHY. A photo can be contested by anybody, they will just tell you that you can easily done this to your own self by hitting yourself either with the wall of your own house or jumping from a tall structure. But medical report is hard to contest because it is written by a competent doctor. While a photo's anybody can do that now with our present times, anybody can manipulate a mere photo with the new technology we have.

IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED in pressing charges then DON'T FILE A COMPLAINT to the police period. He is going to jail anyway as you told us within 6 weeks. If you are just filing it for future references then it is useless going to the police station, the officers there will just think you are just crazier than the suspect. So next time you really want to file a charges then that is the time to go to the police and file a complaint but if not then just stay home and do the laundry or something and forget about it. YOU CANNOT DO two(2) different things at the same time.