Can I drop charges against the defendant/offender?

No. In criminal prosecutions, the case has been captioned the People of the State of Illinois vs the Defendant. The prosecutor takes into consideration what the victim would like to see happen in a criminal case, but the prosecutor, who is obligated to protect society, makes the final decision about whether a case proceeds or not.

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1. How does a criminal charge get filed?
2. What do I do if I am a victim of a crime?
3. What is a felony?
4. What is the difference between a criminal case and a civil case?
5. Are defendants required to attend all court dates?
6. Are crime victim(s) or witnesses required to go to all court dates?
7. Can victims attend court dates?
8. What do I do if I receive a subpoena to testify?
9. What time does court start?
10. Can the State’s Attorney help me collect child support?
11. What is a bond hearing?
12. How can I find out if the defendant is in custody?
13. Who determines the bond amount?
14. What should I do if the defendant violates bond by contacting me?
15. What is a domestic order of protection?
16. Who is eligible for a domestic order of protection?
17. What do I do if my domestic order of protection is violated?
18. Can I drop charges against the defendant/offender?