Malu -
I had a friend who was beaten by her husband once.
It was the first time it had happened [as they were going through a really nasty separation and nastier divorce].
She went to the police station, had everything documented just in case, but told them she didn't want to press charges but wanted proof in case it happened again.
They told her that it was the decision of the District Attorney but that if she didn't want to press charges [especially for something so 'minor'**] s/he probably wouldn't [and didn't].
So - the DA COULD have decided to press charges. If Lois decided to she didn't want to be involved in the prosecution, the chances would be less likely. It's possible Lois could come back and say that she ultimately went willingly [esp if they didn't find evidence that she'd been drugged]. In that case, the only crime would be if someone knowingly reported a crime when there was one.
Remember the Runaway Bride a few years ago? There was nothing for them to charge her with UNTIL several days after she disappeared and she called the cops and gave them information about her 'abduction' [a false police report or something of that nature].
Google Jennifer Wilbanks for more info on her story.
**I DO NOT mean to imply that domestic abuse is minor at all. However, this was truly a one time event with a man who was moving several states away the next day. In some instances where there is repeated abuse where the woman wants to press charges and backs out repeatedly, they will go ahead but it is difficult without the cooperation of the victim. For something more 'major' like attempted murder, the cooperation of the victim may not matter.
ML is a lawyer and I'm sure can correct any of this if I'm wrong
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