Assault

Assault involves harm or potential harm to another persons body. Assault and battery is the most basic of these offenses. However, it is not the only offense that involves bodily harm. Mayhem, as well as forcible rape, or forcible sexual assault can result in bodily injury also. These offenses involve specific injury, whereas assault and battery involve injury of any kind. Homicides involve bodily injury also, but the difference between injury and homicide is that the victim must die in order for it to be a homicide. In most states assault occurs when someone either strikes another person, or acts in a way which is physically intimidating, giving the fear of immediate physical harm. There are usually higher degrees of assault which involve either severe injury or the use of a deadly weapon. Assault and battery is included as a lesser offense to other violent crimes such a mayhem, manslaughter or rape. This is mostly due to the fact that assault is a constituent of those crimes, and the level of violence in mayhem or manslaughter can be viewed as a more serious form of assault. Violent crimes usually include assault, battery, mayhem, reckless endangerment, terrorizing, and terrorist threats.