Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site cca.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!akgua!mcnc!decvax!cca!dee From: dee@cca.UUCP (Donald Eastlake) Newsgroups: net.legal Subject: Re: Criminal Prosecution Message-ID: <19@cca.UUCP> Date: Thu, 9-Aug-84 11:42:43 EDT Article-I.D.: cca.19 Posted: Thu Aug 9 11:42:43 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 14-Aug-84 00:42:17 EDT References: <1238@sdcrdcf.UUCP> Organization: Computer Corp America, Cambridge Lines: 16 At least in Massachusetts it is still permissable for private citizens to bring criminal prosecutions, as I understand it. But this is pretty dangerous as if the person is not convicted, the person who prosecuted them will probably get sued for a lot of money and lose. If the government will not bring criminal charges aginst someone, there is usually an equivalent civil action. For example, if someone steals something, the owner can bring an action for "conversion" (the thief is said to have converted the property to their own use). Of course this does not help much if the person is judgement proof (ie, has almost no assets). Donald -- + Donald E. Eastlake, III ARPA: dee@CCA-UNIX usenet: {decvax,linus}!cca!dee