If a victim decides not to file a report upon the arrival of an officer, what is the officer's obligation?

When a victim chooses not to file a report, the officer's obligation primarily reflects the policies and protocols established by their department, as well as the nature of the situation. In this context, if a victim does not wish to proceed with the filing of a report, the officer is generally not required to produce a written report.

This aligns with the principle of respecting the victim's autonomy and decision-making rights. Law enforcement officers must acknowledge a victim's choice, provided there are no legal requirements or other extenuating circumstances that necessitate documentation. While officers can encourage victims to report incidents and may explain the benefits of doing so, it should not breach the victim's decision to refrain from engaging with the formal reporting process.

Other options, such as filing a report regardless of the victim's wishes or attempting to persuade the victim to change their mind, do not respect the victim's autonomy and can create additional stress for the individual in a vulnerable situation. Leaving the scene immediately is also inappropriate since the officer may still need to assess the situation or provide assistance, but formal reporting might not be necessary if the victim declines.