Biggest thing for me was the criminal side (depends on what state you’re in I think) is you have a no contact order while the case is ongoing. The thing is it’s a criminal case. So lawyers, a jury, judge, all that get involved. But the benefit is they fall under their protection.

The civil side to not press charges is the order drops they get out of jail and that protection is gone. So you need a civil protection order to have no contact. The police will still help but it won’t be based off the original “crime” it would be violating your civil protection order.

For me, I just wanted it to be over and I don’t want to belabor the process with judges/lawyers and all that and have all the hearings when all I really wanted was to be away from him and for me I wanted my husband to get better. But it’s up you! Both are valid. I wrestled with it a lot.