They did error in taking their son to the police Imo. That simply wasn’t necessary after they had addressed all the issues...got help ....and had worked through it. It was a family matter they had already worked out as they stated.....
Yet... they do tend to have a highly ‘legalistic’ household all around from what I see.....and very structured...which could be said was more a controlling atmosphere. However with 19 children they elected to have you’d have your hands plenty full even doing a small measure of that.
They took Josh to the police to make an impact. I think they nipped his perverse digression in the bud and turned his life around. They wanted it to be a family matter but the anti-family media has another agenda.
Also the State Trooper is connected to child pedophilia:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3102655/The-sickening-pedophile-crimes-Duggars-state-trooper-friend-failed-properly-investigate-eldest-son-Josh-molestation-young-girls.html
I'm beginning to believe that Jim Bob is very manipulative. He knew the State Trooper and he knew nothing was going to happen to Josh. It was a chance to “dot the i” in case someone found out about it later.
Josh's snide remark about incest on the show doesn't help.