i want to file charges against a man that molested me 12 years ago?

The police officer's job is not to file charges. His job is to do the investigation, write a report, and forward it to the district attorney. Charges are ultimately decided by the district attorney.

Regardless of how you proceed, charges will not be filed unless the investigation establishes probable cause a crime was committed. That could be difficult considering the amount of time that has passed.

It seems like you could, i know a person who went to the police and filed a police report because of the same situation. Nothing became of it because the guy committed suicide after he found out but i think you still have rights to get some justice. As a mother, i urge you to do what you can to get this scum convicted so that people will know that he is a child molester and so that he possibly cant hurt another child again.

YOu can always speak to the police and the DA. The problem is that, without evidence, they may not be able to secure a conviction. This long after, there really IS no evidence other than your word. To ensure they can proceed, you'll have to convince them there is some evidence, such as witnesses.

Assuming your are in the US, and YA indicates this question originated on the US website, there is no such thing as private prosecution. You can contact the DA, but it is ultimately their call to pursue or not pursue the case.

you are better off just suing him cause of the time that has passed.

Yes you could. That does not mean it will happen.

Then you take out a private prosecution