If I attempt to press charges on an individual or individuals due to criminal activity and the officers or dispatch says they will not act on said violation what award could be awarded through a lawsuit brought against the agency?
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Police and prosecutors generally have wide latitude on which accusations to investigate and which offenses to prosecute. Situations where the evidence is weak may not be pursued. The same is true of situations where the authorities do not consider the situation serious enough to prosecute. To question such judgement, one would need evidence that the decision to not go ahead with charges was being made for an illegitimate reason, such as racial prejudice or personal malice or influence. If your own civil rights are being harmed, a federal suit under section 1983 can be filed, but you do not have a civil right to have someone charged with a crime. I am inclined to doubt that such a suit would succeed except in a very unusual case.
David Siegel
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