Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Girl dropped girlfriends baby on purpose. Want to press charges. Need legal advice.

The_Jazz · 10-31-2006, 06:24 PM

OK, there are two court systems in the US - criminal and civil. Criminal court exclusively involves breaking the law. Every case, without exception, is the "state" versus the individual. "State" means either the Federal, state or local government. In this case, it would almost certainly be state charges. When the police come to your girlfriend and say they want her to press charges, they mean that they want her cooperation in prosecuting this other girl. The punishment can range from virtually nothing, fine and jail time.

Civil court is where people and corporations resolves greivances against each other. Your girlfriend and her baby were done harm by this individual, and they would recoup that loss in civil court. There is no jail time involved, and the state only acts as an artibter.

As far as my comment on why it happened, well, I think that this all happened in a high school given the description. That means immature people are involved from the very outset. The girl most likely has issues far beyond what's found in most high schools. I agree that anyone that would intentionally drop a baby needs to be immediately and severely punished.

It's also entirely possible that your girlfriend concocted the whole story to cover up her own mistakes. I find it very difficult to believe that a girl with 3 children wouldn't recognize that the baby had serious injuries after this kind of fall. As I see it, she was at the very least negligent in not immediately seeking medical attention. I also find it very hard to believe that a high school principal that knew of this event wouldn't call the police himself if for no other reason than to cover his own butt. The school is potentially liable here since it happened their campus.

You asked. You may not like my answer, but you did ask.

10-31-2006, 06:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	OK, there are two court systems in the US - criminal and civil. Criminal court exclusively involves breaking the law. Every case, without exception, is the "state" versus the individual. "State" means either the Federal, state or local government. In this case, it would almost certainly be state charges. When the police come to your girlfriend and say they want her to press charges, they mean that they want her cooperation in prosecuting this other girl. The punishment can range from virtually nothing, fine and jail time. Civil court is where people and corporations resolves greivances against each other. Your girlfriend and her baby were done harm by this individual, and they would recoup that loss in civil court. There is no jail time involved, and the state only acts as an artibter. As far as my comment on why it happened, well, I think that this all happened in a high school given the description. That means immature people are involved from the very outset. The girl most likely has issues far beyond what's found in most high schools. I agree that anyone that would intentionally drop a baby needs to be immediately and severely punished. It's also entirely possible that your girlfriend concocted the whole story to cover up her own mistakes. I find it very difficult to believe that a girl with 3 children wouldn't recognize that the baby had serious injuries after this kind of fall. As I see it, she was at the very least negligent in not immediately seeking medical attention. I also find it very hard to believe that a high school principal that knew of this event wouldn't call the police himself if for no other reason than to cover his own butt. The school is potentially liable here since it happened their campus. You asked. You may not like my answer, but you did ask. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo Last edited by The_Jazz; 10-31-2006 at 06:28 PM..