What is the difference between assault and battery?

In some jurisdictions assault is defined as the threat of bodily harm that reasonably causes fear of harm in the victim while battery is the actual physical impact on another person. If the victim has not actually been touched, but only threatened (or someone attempted to touch them), then the crime is assault. read more

In some jurisdictions assault is defined as the threat of bodily harm that reasonably causes fear of harm in the victim. Battery is the actual physical impact on another person. In certain jurisdictions, assault and battery are often paired together as one offense. read more

• The major difference between assault and battery is the amount of contact. o In case of assault there is no physical harm to victim, it is just threat from criminal to victim. o In case of battery, there must be some physical contact between criminal and victim. read more

Any reasonable threat to a person is assault while battery is defined as use of force against another with intent of causing physical harm without his consent. In other words, assault is the attempt to commit battery. Principle. An assault can cause fear of impending violence in a person even though there is no actual violence inflicted. read more