Which is more important?

Question

I was physically assaulted, resulting in a permanent injury. Now I may have to choose which route to pursue:-
A.) Prosecute the offender in criminal court
OR
B.) Be awarded compensation money for pain management costs.
Although I need the financial help, I think I will feel guilty about an offender essentially "getting away with it".
I was a child at the time (15) and did nothing to provoke this attack (in case anyone's wondering).
The offender is now believed to be living with another child...
Please offer your thoughts as I may need to reach this decision in the next few days.
Thank you.
Catwoman Alex. X

I am in the UK.
The Police are coming round this afternoon to take my statement so if there are any extra bits of information, I'll post them here later today.
Thanks to everyone that has given their thoughts so far. It means a lot.

For Dreamsblend:-
Compensation is not from my attacker so it would just help me pay for treatment.
Neither route will cost myself any money.
I would not get much, if any, money from him if I go through the Police but a criminal record would show him that he can't get away with abusing children and would hopefully protect future children that come into contact with him.
I do not class option as a hateful revenge but justice against a child abuser.
I am also concerned that if I sit back and do nothing, that I may as well have given him the green light to hurt another child.
With these things in mind, do you still think I should not act while I can?
Thanks,
Catwoman Alex. X

Answer 1

Prosecute as he will only think he can get away with it again. And i know i wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened. No amount of money is worth it.

Answer 2

It sounds like you are in the UK so you can actually do both, and if you are applying for compensation from the CICB you will need to cooperate fully with the police in order to claim. If you are thinking of claiming from your attacker, it may not be feasible, for instance if he / she is not working or only on a low income the court may means-test the defendant and end up ordering them to pay you £5 a month for the next 10 years. Good luck whichever you decide!

Answer 3

I don't know why you have to choose ...I would imagine that after he is found guilty in a court of law you could then pursue compensation.
If that's not possible then i would go for the prosecution to stop this animal ruining anyone Else's life.

Answer 4

Why do you have to choose? No state has a law that bans a civil trial after a criminal prosecution.

Answer 5

You might be shocked at how little actual money you will get.

Go for the criminal prosecution. Sometimes a little payback goes further than a little money.

Answer 6

Prosecute criminally...our society has become one of entitlement and a civil law suit will only reinforce that notion... put the MF behind bars and protect any other children he might want to prey on...

Answer 7

I think that you should prosecute he/she because most likley he will be a repeat offender and if he is living with another child you need to help that child. Even if you are if finacial help. What would be better helping that child or yourself....idk but thats just my opinion

Answer 8

prosecute to avoid injury to another child later make a civil case against the perp and get money

Answer 9

Dear Catwoman,

I am going to ask you in return: Which is more important to you? To help other children from abuse, or to take revenge and feel good about it? If I were in your place, one side of myself would say to me: "Take revenge and make him pay for what he did to you..." and I would have this other side saying to me: "Forgive him, because love and forgiveness are much stronger than hate."

My ego would expect me to take vengeance...-a feeling that I once had inside me in such a great intensity-...so let's try and see how I would feel if I took this route. I would have to attend the court, pay a lot of money, and in order to take my revenge, I would have to fight with all my soul...in the end I would feel psychologically worn out because of the stress, and apart of that I would be compelled to relive all this nightmare for once again. Hate, always brings hate and heartache back to you. Love, always attracts love. If you read some self-help books, you will realize that all of the writers give the same advice...what you release to the outside world, is what you attract at the same time. If you concentrate and visualize a dream that you want to make true, you have already done the most important step for its materialization. See it in front of you, and feel the feelings of happiness as if it has already happened.However, think carefully about what you wish...if it is hate that you add to it, then somehow hate will come back to you in another form. We are all connected, and unfortunately people do not seem to realize this. How do you have a sudden thought of somebody you know? And after one minute this very same person asks for you on the phone? It is due to this energy that we all share with one another...our thoughts, travel through space...

If you want to feel good and relieved for the rest of your life about this, try and help this other child, in case he/she is in danger. If there is a case, you can appear as a witness against this person who harmed you...but first you must be certain and clear about what your motives are. You cannot feel guilty for possibly letting him get away with it...(think of how Christ behaved towards his prosecutors, he did not try to defend himself) you can only feel guilty if he has harmed another child and you have done nothing to protect this other child...there is a difference. Here again, I will mention Christ's words: "He who harms a child, it is better to kill this man, by placing a rope around his neck"...

My point is: Concentrate on the positive side of life...and fend for the weakest ones...if I were in your place, I would try to see myself as a warrior of God whose mission on earth was to suffer (in order to realize how it is like) and take advantage of this painful experience in the most positive way...by trying to save others.

My brother had been attacked by a gang and was kicked on his head...he finally sued them and managed to receive a very big compensation...some times it depends on how strong you may be feeling emotionally, to pursue them. You may also decide not to go after them, but one day you realize that they do pay for their sins, and not in a light way at all...it is the norm of cause and effect. Always remember: What you give is what you get. So, you are a double winner in such a case. You have saved yourself from a lot of heartache, and have visualized at the same time a happier future...it is not just "dreaming" that people call it. There is a very powerful energy behind it, that you use it in the most creative way: materializing your happiness, by accepting your positive thoughts/pictures, and believing in their power.

I hope I have helped somehow...I wish you all the best with whatever decision you come up in the end.

Love,

dreamsblend.:0)

Answer to your question:

Since we do not know how serious your situation is, I think you are the best one to judge which route to choose. If you believe he will hurt any other children, then do something about it. I am just wondering what sort of person he is...is he a person who might have regrets? Or is he somebody with a sick and dangerous mind, which may be a danger to children? If you know the answer and you believe it is the second one and you have the strength and courage to proceed, then my answer is yes. And you do seem to have the courage...in this case, I admire you.

Best wishes...

Answer 10

Prosecute to protect other kids.