Originally Posted by Relentless

That is untrue, and also a dangerous POV.

Going to the police about anything creates an official record of the event. It shows on a specific day and time a complaint was filed about a specific person for a specific reason, with extensive details. That report MAY lead to a criminal charge if a prosecutor believes they can win a case on the merits by proving the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt (or can at least get beyond the lesser burden of proof required by a grand jury). However, even if the charge is not brought, that record of the event remains and becomes evidentiary in future incidents when applicable.

Failing to go to the police for things like this is a major reason why stalkers are able to continue unabated... because nobody thought it was worth it to go and actually file a report to start the paper trail. I have no facts about this particular case, do not know the parties involved, and have no opinion about their incident. However, I am seeing a number of people suggesting that going to the police is somehow a bad idea or an irrelevant step and that is absolutely terrible advice.

If you, or someone you know, ever feels they have been violated. The best first step is to immediately go to the ER (WITHOUT showering) and get a rape-kit processed. This is important even if sex was not performed to completion. The police will process any evidence and file a complete police report. They will do so whether you are a pornstar, a rock star or a nun... they have ZERO authority to decide whether to file a report or not... they are required by law to file a report and failing to do so may subject the officer, the precinct and the municipality to serious civil lawsuits.

If possible, always bring your cell phone. Always bring a friend to witness the actions of the police. Always get the name AND badge number of the police officer (they must provide their badge number upon request and it is in fact the main reason they each have a unique badge number). Make sure you get details of where the report will be filed and when it will be filed. ALWAYS get a copy of the police report for your own records.

Police are not decision-makers... they are there to keep the peace and record the facts so that decision-makers (prosecutors, juries and judges) can get a clear picture of what happened. The police do not have discretion with regard to what should be documented or whose claims to document. A prosecutor may decide a particular person or charge is not credible... a police officer must record their claim whether he believes you or not. Filing a false claim is an actionable offense... so make sure you tell only the absolute truth.

Going to Twitter instead of the ER and the police is a way to circumvent due process, remove the presumption that someone is innocent until proven guilty, and as a way to assassinate someone's character it may work wonders. However, for anyone actually interested in justice, or seeking to see criminals taken off the streets, the police are an infinitely better place to file claims than social media outlets will ever be.