What’s the Difference between Assault and Battery

The crime of Assault, Assault & Battery, and aggravated assault all involve intentional harm inflicted on one person by another.

Any crime that involves physical attack or even threat of physical harm is usually classified as an assault, a battery, or both.

However, how do the two differs?

Difference between Assault and Battery

Some states split Assault & Battery up while others combine the offenses.

The reason for pairing Assault and Battery as one offense is that when one commits Battery, they usually have intent to harm. It threatens the person before committing the physical act, so he commits both crimes.

However, in reality, when you put Assault vs. Battery into a clear perspective, the two have separate legal meaning.

What’s is Assault?

Assault is an intentional act that results in physical harm fear for another person. This applies even when the victim of the Assault physically harmed.

What is Battery?

On the flip side, Battery is the intentional offensive or harmful touching of another person without their consent. It must include intentional touching, harmful or offensive touching, and with no consent from the victim.

Jurisdictions have three degrees of assault/battery, which have a range of punishment for the crime.

Degree of Assault

1. First-Degree Assault

First-degree Assault is the highest assault level with the most severe punishment. It includes life-threating physical harm and extreme indifference for the value of human life. Instead of using the first-degree Assault, some jurisdiction uses aggravated Assault, which is another way of stating the most severe form of Assault.

First-degree Assault usually entails the use of a dangerous weapon.

2. Second-Degree Assault

Second-degree Assault usually includes the use of dangerous weapons as well, but the intent or the level of bodily harm is less severe than the first-degree Assault.

3. Third-Degree Assault

Third-degree Assault is a reckless infliction of the fear of severe physical injury—it is not physical.

Punishment For Assault and Battery

Regardless of a jurisdiction’s definition of assault/battery, a crime of the first-degree Assault is rated as a felony. It is punishable by 5-25 years imprisonment in Virginia under state code § 18.2-57.

A crime of second-degree Assault is usually felony-rated, punishable by 1-20 years imprisonment depending on the state.

A crime of third-degree Assault is usually classified as a misdemeanor, which means one cannot serve more than a year jail term.

Variation Of Assault

Other assault charges include sexual assault, which can include rape and statuary rape, Assault with intend to madder, Assault on a minor or juvenile, gang assault, Assault on a peace officer. These are generally classified as felonies, all carrying jail time and fines as well. The charges are always comes enhanced if the person has prior offense in their record

Apart from criminal prosecution, Assault and batteries are pursuable via civil lawsuits.

Assault and Battery Defense

Even though Assault & Battery have grave charges, there are several defense measures. Let’s here are the most common throughout all jurisdiction:

1. Mutual consent – Mutual consent is when both parties agree to the situation, meaning that there was not a one-sided attack.
2. Self-defense
3. Defense of others,
4. Defense of the property

However, these defenses are only useable when the force used to defend oneself, the other, or property was proportionate to the Assault or Battery the individual intended to stop.

If you’re facing Assault or Battery charges, you should consult an experienced criminal defense attorney for the best available defense.