Press charges or no?

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Servant31 said:
more just trying to think of what us most long term effective for them. Truthfully from my perspective I got my phone back so…meh who cares
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Alternatively, you could consider what’s most long-term effective for their next victim(s). You pressing charges now (and maybe adding to their sentence) may save the next 10 victims from losing their phones. Or might save one of those innocent victims from being hurt or killed when the already-prolific thieves eventually graduate to violence in their life of crime.

Press charges. They need to pay for their crimes. They will have plenty of opportunities to reform, but letting them off the hook certainly won’t get them to change their life around.
 
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You should talk it over with the detectives. They can fill you in a bit as to the criminal background of these guys. That might help you make a better decision. In either event we are taught to forgive. The first impulse is often to want to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. They are already in a world of trouble if they actually stole a policeman’s badge, and rammed a car. The police are automatically going to prosecute them for that.
 
Servant31 said:
Not doubts, more just trying to think of what us most long term effective for them.
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This is not just about “them”.

You also owe a duty to society and your local community as well to stop people who repeatedly commit crimes.

It’s also not about forgiveness. You can forgive people and not hold a grudge against them, but that doesn’t mean they should not receive any punishment. A parent whose kid does wrong will forgive the kid because s/he loves the kid, but he’s still going to get grounded or put in the time-out corner. It’s not like these people are going to be put to death for stealing your phone.
 
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Just file a police report and then bow out. Stealing a police officer’s badge and wrecking a car will get them in enough trouble. You pressing charges isn’t going to make a hill of beans difference except to put you through more trouble than it’s worth.
 
Servant31 said:
but my concern is that adding one more won’t help them any because
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If you add a few months to their tally in your conscience you’ll probably regret it later, when there’s no undoing. Elaborating: [you can desist from certain charges, from others you can’t, however righteous you yourself will be testifying for additional hassle]. AFAIC, I think your reasoning is right, forgive, let it slide and that will be a huge work of mercy on the scale, and a crystal clear conscience that is priceless.

God asks us for mercy, Our Lord doesn’t need our intervening to guide matters towards justice. From your description things are already inexorably tending towards temporal justice.
 
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Yeah this was actually my initial thought, just forgive, pray for them, and be finished it. What difference would one more charge make either way. I doubt they got into my phone, it was password protected, no evidence of tampering, and only gone for one morning. Unfortunately the detective seemed a little more interested in having a discussion with the secretary behind the counter than answering my questions so I just let it go. Other posters have made good points too though about accountability.
 
Definitely… this was sort of what I was thinking initially, they are going to jail in all likelihood what difference will one charge make. If they are going to have a “oh crap I’d better get my life in order” moment or not I’m not sure how one extra minor charge, given what they are already facing, would do to tip that scale. I also thought about attaching a letter to the charge sheet saying that if they appear contrite or are willing to go to counseling then I would be happy to drop them.
 
Great points, but truthfully forgiveness has already been given. Honestly I almost couldn’t say I even needed to forgive, it’s so minor in my life, I didn’t even know my phone was missing. Got the call from the detective, picked up the phone… an hour later I was back home lol, didn’t phase me one bit. So really it’s about civic duty and what’s best for them either way.
 
Servant31 said:
I also thought about attaching a letter
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There’s a problem you’re not foreseeing. That letter can be disregarded or considered, but if it translates into a sentence that will weigh on your conscience.

Be it written or verbal, personally I would avoid pressing charges - you got a pretty sweet chance of ending the problem right here and now , through you own means, not depending on anyone. In this case you have that option.
 
I would. The judge probably won’t do anything anyway, but I would want it on the books that they were caught.
 
Allegra said:
I would. The judge probably won’t do anything anyway, but I would want it on the books that they were caught.
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Well, I’ll take 2 more sentences then. When you walk into the courthouse their mothers, wives and children be there. Probably humble and beaten like you can’t even imagine. You’ll get wind of their “long rap”, and more than enough other witnesses demanding a heavy hand. Do you really want to add to that?
 
Mt 5:7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
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Mt 5:20. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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James 2:13. For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment
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@Servant31 you got a pretty sweat deal here man. And it only requires that you do nothing.
 
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I’d press charges, and if I had a chance, I’d tell them to turn their lives around.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
I’d press charges, and if I had a chance, I’d tell them to turn their lives around.
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Can I ask you a question @adamhovey1988? Do you think there’s a significant cultural difference at work here? Because, I just counted the posters prompting charges. And, in plenty other countries, there’d be a significant percentage prompting against charges.

I gotta tell ya the truth, I don’t think that’s the right way to go.
 
I didn’t say cut his hand off. I said make him take legal responsibility for breaking into someone’s car and stealing their phone. Most likely, the actual verdict will be more than merciful, presuming the OP is in the US.
 
Maybe in other countries there’s actually a pretty good chance of the thief doing time.
 
Allegra said:
Maybe in other countries there’s actually a pretty good chance of the thief doing time.
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In terms of “chances” I’d venture saying things are looking…

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