I'm not interested in "vindictiveness" and it's unfair to paint it that way. I'm interested in "justice."

I had a drunk driver hit my car and take off, going through red lights while fleeing. I had gotten out of my car to talk to him and he came extremely close to running me over in his escape. 

The police caught him, but he got a plea deal (even though I had a witness) of DUII diversion, reckless driving down to careless driving, hit and run reduced to some kind of diversion/keep nose clean and it disappears, and dropping reckless endangerment. 

Does that feel like justice? Not to me I was almost killed by his actions and had a witness to the event. 

So yes, I'm angry when I see drunk/hit and run drivers get kid-glove treatment through a settlement that is unnecessary. Prosecutors using a settlement, dropping legit charges so they don't have to do their job and go to court.

If you're charging a suspect with a count and you can uphold it in court, then take it to court.