In the US, there is no justice unless you can afford a lawyer.
I was assaulted at an inpatient institution last December. My stay was illegally upgraded to involuntary; I was denied the ability to file a grievance or speak with a patient advocate. I was also placed on the female ward as a passing transgender man and outed to all other patients. They did not provide me with discharge paperwork; as a consequence, I lost my job.
I cannot afford a lawyer; there will be no justice for this.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 1 week ago
Why the fuck does she need a lawyer to press charges? Assault is a crime against the state. It’s supposed to be the police and the state prosecutor who deal with this.
turtlesareneat@discuss.online 1 week ago
The state will fail to accomplish anything meaningful in prosecution - a bad deal or bungled case. Plus there’s the notoriety the case is already generating. She’ll need to file a civil suit as well, and she’ll need someone making sure everything is OK on her end (the attacker doesn’t counter-sue for instance).
I’ve been the victim of hate crime, you think you’re gonna get a justice boner and fight it to the core, but in reality the simplest/safest answer for the victim is to shut up and make it disappear. You’re already traumatized, fighting is confusing and painful.
Audacious@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
Governmental agencies are abandoning their written duties for the current regime, including cops. Doesn’t help that cops are being trained that the public is the enemy. Also, regular investigations and crime solving has been steadily going down. Demographically, conservative-racist people is the biggest group to be in law enforcement, meaning they will be less likely to help someone that’s different. Just recently, the DOJ is refusing to enforce court rulings in favor of the orange king. It’s horrible, and dire, and too many in power seem to not care or trying to ignore it.
Dasus@lemmy.world 1 week ago
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_fallacy
shalafi@lemmy.world 1 week ago
The reply you got is spot on, and so are you. Often, you don’t get choice as a victim, the state/county/city/whatever is charging a crime whether you like it or not.
nickiwest@lemmy.world 1 week ago
The DA is supposed to seek criminal charges in criminal cases with enough evidence to prosecute. If the victim of any crime in the US wants financial restitution (for hospital bills, lost wages, etc.), they need an attorney to pursue a civil suit.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 1 week ago
A civil suit, yes. But the description was to press charges. I thought it implied a private prosecution, rather than a suit over damages.