What is the Difference Between Assault and Aggravated Assault?

Crimes involving intentional harm to another person can be classed as assault, assault and battery and aggravated assault. Depending on the seriousness of the situation this may rise to aggravated assault. even mutually agreed fighting can constitute assault. Read on to learn more.

What Is Assault?

Assault is the intentional act causing a person to fear they are about to suffer physical harm. It also recognizes placing another person in fear of imminent bodily harm is itself an act deserving of punishment. This definition also allows police officers to intervene and make an arrest without waiting for the assaulter to physically strike the victim.

What Is Assault and Battery?

Battery and assault were once considered separate crimes. Many modern statutes do not distinguish between the two crimes. These days, statutes often refer to crimes of actual physical violence as assaults.

Simple Versus Aggravated Assault

Many states say assaults fall into one of two categories, simple or aggravated. The latter is a felony involving an assault with the intent to commit a serious crime or with a weapon. When these factors are not at play, the crime tends to be assault, which is a misdemeanor. There are states recognizing different degrees of harm and classifying them as first, second and third degree assaults.

Source: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/assault-battery-aggravated-assault-33775.html