noun
verb
- In criminal and tort law, an act, usually consisting
of a threat or attempt to inflict bodily injury upon another person, coupled
with the apparent present ability to succeed in carrying out the threat or the
attempt if not prevented, that causes the person to have a reasonable fear or
apprehension of immediate harmful or offensive contact. No intent to cause
battery or the fear or apprehension is required so long as the victim is placed
in reasonable apprehension or fear. No actual physical injury is needed to
establish an assault, but if there is any physical contact, the act constitutes
both an assault and a battery.
- In criminal law, in some states,
the term includes battery and attempted battery.
- Any attack .
-
The act of inflicting
bodily injury upon another. See also mayhem.
aggravated assault
A criminal assault accompanied by circumstances that make it
more severe, such as the victimÂ’s suffering serious bodily injury or an assault
committed with a dangerous and deadly weapon. The additional circumstances that
make the act an aggravated assault are set by statute.
sexual assault
-
Rape.
- Any sexual
contact with another person without the otherÂ’s consent or when the other lacks
the capacity to give legally effective consent.