What is the difference between battery and assualt?

Answer 1

AnswerAssault, which is quite different from battery is the threatening of a victim, generally verbal. Although assault does not include the actual touching of the victim, the victim believes that he/she is being threatened and in danger of being harmed.

Battery, is the actual harming of the individual, either physical or verbal.

Although some states have replaced the word "battery" with the word "assault", most states have kept them as two different crimes/charges.

Another Explanation:

Assault - To place another in APPREHENSION of an offensive and imminent bodily contact (a battery). NOTE this is not fear. Therefore, if a 100 pound weakling cocks his fist menacingly at a 300 pound professional bodybuilder, said bodybuilder would not be fearful, but can apprehend that the weakling may hit him, resulting in a battery.

Battery - An intentional harmful or offensive contact with a person or an object intimately connected to said person. Basically, any intentional body to body contact meant to be harmful and/or offensive is a battery. No injury needs to occur necessarily (but with no injury, damages will be low). Also, I could swipe an object out of your hand in anger. That too would be a battery.

Answer 2

'Assault' (sometimes called "simple assault" is an assault by unwanted touching using your hands or fists. 'Assault and Battery' means an unwanted touching using your hands using some striking object.

Answer 3

Yes. Assault is the threat of violence. Battery is the violence itself.

Answer 4

Battery is the commiting of the criminal act and assault is the intent to do so.

Answer 5

Battery is an unlawful touching. Assault is to create the fear of an unlawful touching.

Answer 6

Can be a misdemeanor or felony offense, depending on the nature of the crime and the presence or absence of physical injuries to the witness/victim.

Answer 7

Pushing someone around and hitting them.