From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpress chargespress chargesSCLACCUSEto say officially that someone has done something illegal and must go to court → press
Examples from the Corpus
press charges• Manning said Las Vegas police never recommended a prosecution in the hotel beating because Anderson declined to press charges.• The assistant chaplain at Long Lartin, in her 40's, has decided not to press charges.• Mrs Moon unsuccessfully implored prosecutors not to press charges against her husband.• He did not press charges against the police as the lawyer urged him to.• Is there anything I can do to press charges against these men?• Police say the owner of the boats doesn't want to press charges against whoever was responsible.• The high priests and elders being still keen to press charges, Festus invited them to Caesarea to put their case. 