Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"Defense lawyers often try to prevent the filing of criminal charges by arranging for a civil compromise. Much like mediated agreements, with a civil compromise a defendant agrees to reimburse a victim for damages. In return, the victim asks a prosecutor not to file charges. This option gives wealthier arrestees a ticket out of the criminal justice system that poorer arrestees may not have." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Berman-Barrett