Should laws be enforced despite a victim's wishes?

[Benton]

(09-15-2015, 12:02 PM)michaelsean Wrote: While I have no problem with a prosecutor taking the victim's opinion into account, in no way should the victim be the major decision maker on who to prosecute.  Do we let a rapist go if we have evidence beyond what the victim can supply if the victim doesn't want charges to be filed?  You violated the victim's rights, but you also broke the state's law.

Every day.

I get your point, but that's a bad analogy. Every day in this country a rapist is not charged/not arraigned/found innocent because the victim declined to press charges or testify. Part of the problem is the obscene delay in getting rape kits tested. But even when they are and even when there are witnesses, a victim's willingness to say it was not consensual sex is most often necessary.