Paris, TN asked in Domestic Violence for Tennessee

Q: Can I file a police report on domestic violence without filing charges?

I took pictures a hour after it happened and the day after. Its been a week since the incident and most of its healed or just about healed but there is a evident scar under my eyebrow

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: Thank you for your question. To answer it simply, if you file a police report to report a crime, it is not your decision whether to charge the case or not. That decision lies with the State. However, if you are adamant with the police that you do not want to press charges and just want to report the incident, they may allow you to do so without pursuing charges.

Please be aware that the police may decide to pursue charges without your help or consent. If you decide to proceed with reporting the incident to law enforcement, know that it is possible for charges to be brought against the alleged perpetrator even without your consent.

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