What Is Battery And Assault

Penalties For Assault Battery And Aggravated Assault

Assault and Battery – Tort Law

The penalties for assault, battery, and aggravated assault will vary depending on the severity of the offense and the state in which it was committed. Generally, assault and battery are misdemeanors, while aggravated assault is a felony. Misdemeanor offenses carry a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail, while felony offenses can result in prison time.

Some states have laws that allow for enhanced penalties if the victim is a certain type of person, such as a police officer or a member of the military. These enhanced penalties can include longer jail sentences and higher fines. In some cases, an assault charge can be elevated to a more serious offense, such as attempted murder or manslaughter, if the victim is seriously injured or killed.

Assault Battery And Aggravated Assault

The crimes of Battery, Assault, and Aggravated Assault are all intentional harming from one person to another.

All offences associated with a physical attack are generally in the category of Assault or Battery.

Based on crime severity, the level of crime rises to another level of Aggravated Assault. Aggravated assaults can attack more than one side, and a fight can also lead to prosecution even if the two agree to fight each other.

Simple Assault And Battery

Assault and battery are terms that are frequently used, but commonly misunderstood. Simple assault is defined as a verbal or physical threat of violence by an individual capable of carrying the act out which creates a reasonable amount of fear in which an act of violence is not committed. Simple battery is when the act of violence is carried out and physical harm is inflicted upon a person by another. The Fort Lauderdale criminal defense lawyers at The Ansara Law Firm have represented numerous clients charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

The defendant unlawfully threatened by word or act, to commit an act of violence upon another person
The defendant appeared to have the ability to carry out the threat at the time the threat was made
The defendant created a well-founded fear in the victims mind that the threatened violence was about to occur.

Simple Assault is an easily defendable charge, because no physical violence has actually occurred, and the capacity or the legitimacy of the defendants ability or intent to carry out the threat can be called into question and the report of the incident as according to the police or the victim can be misrepresentative of the actual incident. The Ansara Law Firm has been representing clients charged with Simple Assault for over 10 years now, and continue to successfully defend them in front of the judge.

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What Is Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is also called assault with a deadly weapon. In this instance, the individual had the intent to cause harm and was in possession of a weapon that could cause death. This includes the more obvious things, such as guns and knives of a certain length, but also includes other implements. It varies significantly from state to state and even municipality to municipality. In some areas, something as simple as a baseball bat may be considered a deadly weapon if it was used with deadly force and the intent to cause serious harm. Once more, it comes back to the intent behind the use of the item.

Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone close to you has been injured as a result of an assault, battery, or another intentional tort, you may want to consult with a local personal injury attorney to see if you can recover for your injuries. It’s in your best interest to contact an attorney as soon as you can after your injury to avoid exceeding the time limit in which a personal injury lawsuit can be filed.

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States Vary In Their Definitions And Penalties For The Crimes Of Assault Assault And Battery And Aggravated Assault

The crimes of assault, assault and battery, and aggravated assault all involve intentional harm inflicted on one person by another. Any crime involving a physical attack is usually classified as an assault, a battery, or both. Depending on the seriousness of the attack , these acts can rise to the level of aggravated assault. And more than one-sided attacks can constitute assault. Fighting can lead to an assault charge, even when two people have mutually agreed to fight.

Read on to learn how the law defines and penalizes assault, assault and battery, and aggravated assault crimes.

Charges Of Assaults And Battery

The Battery is a hybrid offence, and it determines where a prosecutor decides the summary of the crime. Hybrid offences lead to severe punishment, which can go up to 10 years in prison.

In contrast, the charges for Assault vary on the severity of the claim or the gravity of the case.

If you have a charge, you should first contact a trusted lawyer. Also, it is essential to have a lawyer who has experience in the field as this will help you get the best results.

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Assault Vs Battery: Whats The Difference

People have generally heard the phrase assault and battery either on the news or in television and movies. The terms assault and battery actually have different, specific legal meanings. The legal definitions of assault and battery differ in both the civil and criminal contexts, and they differ by state as well. For defendants arrested and charged with the crime of assault in New York, the various terms can be confusing. Below, our seasoned New York criminal law team explains what the terms mean under New York law, and which crimes are applicable.

Understanding The Difference Between Assault And Battery

While both assault and battery are crimes, they are not the same offense. It is common for the two crimes to be confused or used interchangeably in conversation, though there is a key difference.

Despite being distinct crimes, people charged with either assault of battery are subject to harsh penalties if they are prosecuted and convicted to the fullest extent of the law. Though the consequences of a potential criminal conviction can be frightening, a knowledgeable defense attorney could provide the resources necessary to help avoid a conviction.

How To Beat Assault And Battery Charges In Florida

In Florida, its possible to successfully defend a person facing charges for assault and battery. Some of the most common defenses that our criminal attorneys use to beat these charges include:

Self-defense or defense of others. Criminal lawyers might be able to build a defense that proves that the defendant committed the offense because he or she considered themselves in danger of violence. This can also be applied if the alleged accused acted in defense of others.
Lack of proof. If the prosecutor or the law enforcement do not have enough evidence to prove the offense, your attorney might be able to get your charges dropped. In assault cases, the prosecutor must prove that the alleged victim was in fear of imminent violence. For example, if the victims back was facing you, they might not be able to prove that they were aware and feared an attack.
Mutual combat. Another strategy that your lawyer might use as a defense is to prove that both parties participated and assented to the physical altercation. In these cases, a criminal lawyer might try to prove that there was consent of the other party as a consequence of the physical altercation.

Even though these are common defenses against assault or battery charges, the strategies that a lawyer might pursue will depend on the circumstances of each case. In order to learn about your legal options, you should enlist the help of a criminal defense attorney.

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Example Of Assault And Battery

Throwing a rock at someone for the purpose of hitting him is battery if the rock in fact strikes the person and is an assault if the rock misses. The fact that the person may have been unaware that the rock had been thrown at him is irrelevant under this definition of assault.

Some jurisdictions have incorporated the definition of civil assault into the definition of the crime making it a criminal assault to intentionally place another person in “fear” of a harmful or offensive contact. “Fear” means merely apprehension – awareness rather than any emotional state.

Volenti Non Fit Injuria

Volenti non fit injuria is a defense that can be used if the victim consented to the defendants actions. This means that the victim agreed, either explicitly or implicitly, to being harmed by the defendant. In order to use this defense, the defendant must have had a reasonable belief that the victim consented to their actions.

For example in a game of football of rugby if two people consent to playing then they cannot sue each other for injuries arising out of the game.

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How Is An Assault Different Than A Battery Under Us Law

Assault and battery are separate and distinct crimes. The main difference between the two offenses is that while an assault does not necessarily involve any actual physical contact with another person, a battery does.

An assault occurs when a person commits an act that may inflict physical harm on someone else.
A battery takes place when a person commits an act that does inflict physical harm on another.

An assault is like an attempted battery, while a battery is like a completed assault.

Assault is like an attempted battery under California law.

How Are Battery And Assault Charged

Both battery and assault can be charged as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor is less severe than a felony, and will require some jail time, along with substantial fines.

Assault: assault is charged with imprisonment for up to six months and / or a maximum fine of $1,000
Battery: battery is charged with imprisonment for up to six months and / or substantial fines beyond $1,000.

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Is It Assault Or Battery

State laws vary greatly when it comes to the use of the terms “assault” and “battery.” Some only use the term “assault,” others use only “battery,” and some states use both.

But regardless of the term used, assault and battery crimes generally involve the following:

an intentional act of placing another in fear of immediate bodily harm, or
an intentional act of offensive touching or contact that causes harm to another.

Fear of harm. When assault involves the threat of harm, the prosecutor must usually prove that the defendant took some action or appeared to have the ability to carry out the threat, and the threat would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent harm. The following acts by a defendant would likely place a reasonable person in fear of immediate harm:

raises a fist or moves menacingly toward a victim with a belt
strikes the wall right next to the victim
throws a vase or large object toward the victim and misses, or
attempts to grab the victim’s arm or leg

Unwanted physical contact. Intentional physical contact that causes bodily harm to another is assault and battery. But not all acts of offensive touching need result in visible harm to be considered assault and battery. Often any unwanted touching counts. For instance, a defendant commits assault and battery by:

Assault And Battery Charges

What is the difference between assault and battery?

Some jurisdictions use different degrees to classify assault and battery cases. First-degree assault and battery charges are the most severe and it includes extreme bodily harm, usually with the use of a weapon. Some laws use the term aggravated assault and battery charges in place of first-degree assault.

Other ways to designate the various assault and battery charges include:

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What Is The Definition Of Assault

Assault is often defined as any intentional act that causes another person to fear an attack or imminent physical harm. This definition recognizes that placing another person in fear of bodily harm is itself an act deserving of punishment, even if the victim of the assault is not physically harmed. This definition also allows police officers to intervene and make an arrest without waiting for the assaulter to actually strike the victim.

Assault example: Snider is walking down a city street carrying a bottle of soda. Mantle, walking along the same street in the opposite direction, sees Snider approaching. Because of Snider’s reputation as a hothead, Mantle immediately becomes fearful that Snider will swing the bottle at him when their paths cross. As they walk past each other, nothing happens. Snider has not committed an assault. Snider has a right to carry a bottle of soda in public, and Mantle’s fear of being hit was not the result of Snyder’s intentionally threatening behavior. But now assume that, as they draw closer, Snider draws back his fist and tells Mantle “You’re going to pay for stealing my collection of baseball pennants.” As Snider begins to swing his fist in Mantle’s direction, Mantle sprints away and escapes harm. Here, Snider has committed an assault. His intentional conduct placed Mantle in reasonable fear of immediate bodily harm.

Involvement Of Drugs And Alcohol

Several studies have shown that those guilty of battery and / or assault in California and Nevada have been found to have cases of drugs and / or alcohol in their system. Usually, drugs and alcohol impair someones mental abilities in making conscious decisions, and many may engage in taking such abrupt decisions such as assault and battery.

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What Is The Difference Between Assault And Battery In California

Many people believe that assault and battery are interchangeable crimes because theyre often charged together. However, the state of California classifies assault and battery as two separate convictions. Both assault and battery can result in significant penalties, so if youre charged with one or both of these crimes, its important to fight your charges and work to get them reduced or dismissed.

At Crowell Law Offices, were familiar with Californias criminal laws and can use our experience to defend your case in court. A Sacramento violent crime lawyer from our team will investigate your arrest and use evidence to weaken the prosecutions argument.

Is Spitting On Someone Battery

What is the difference between Assault and Battery

Battery: Act Requirement Generally, a victim does not need to be injured or harmed for a battery to have occurred, so long as an offensive contact is involved. In a classic example, spitting on an victim does not physically injure them, but it nonetheless can constitute offensive contact sufficient for a battery.

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Consultwith Mass Tsang For Your Ontario Assault Defence

Thecriminal trial lawyers atMass Tsang are dedicated to securing the most favourable outcomepossible for every Toronto-area client it represents in an assaultcase. This dedication has helped Mass Tsang lawyers successfullydefend thousands of Toronto-area assault cases. If you or someone youknow has been chargedwith assault in the GTA contact the experienced MassTsang lawyers today for a free consultation.

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What Is The Crime Of Simple Battery

Battery is defined as any willful and unlawful use of force or violence on someone else.4 The legal definition of battery requires that a person actually inflict harmful or offensive contact on the victim.

There is no requirement that the person caused any personal injury or bodily harm to the alleged victim. In fact, the slightest touching can be a battery.5

A battery also occurs even if the touching takes place:

through the victims clothing, and/or
indirectly, by means of an object that the defendant uses to touch the victim.6

Unlike with assault, battery charges have to include allegations that an actual touching took place. For example, there can be no criminal charges of battery if a person went to shove another person and missed. An assault charge, though, could still be raised.

Simple batteries normally get charged as misdemeanor offenses. States typically punish offenders with:

up to six months of jail time, and/or
substantial fines.

Note that an aggravated battery is more severe than a simple battery. An aggravated battery is a battery that causes serious bodily injury or great bodily harm to the victim.7

A battery is inflicting unlawful physical force on another.

What Types Of Charges Can Be Filed For Assault Or Battery

Intentional Torts: Assault vs. Battery – Fundamentals | @Level Up RN

There are two different types of charges that can be filed for both assault and battery – simple and aggravated. The difference between the charges can be broken down into the accusers intent and if that intent was malicious. Each type of charge can lead to different punishments in the state of Georgia:

Simple Assault and Simple Battery: these charges are usually defined as a misdemeanor. This could lead to up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Aggravated Assault and Aggravated Battery: compared to their simple assault and battery counterparts, an aggravated assault or battery charge has a heftier penalty. A conviction could mean up to 20 years in prison, probation up to 20 years, and a fine up to $100,000. If someone is convicted of aggravated assault and used their firearm while in a vehicle, the state imposes a three-year minimum prison sentence.

If you or a loved one is facing an assault or battery charge – whether its classified simple or aggravated –our attorneys are ready to help you. at 471-3177.

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