{"id":352001,"date":"2023-12-08T09:25:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T14:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/assault-and-battery-penalties-and-sentencing.html"},"modified":"2025-01-15T09:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T14:25:00","slug":"assault-and-battery-penalties-and-sentencing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/assault-and-battery-penalties-and-sentencing.html","title":{"rendered":"Assault and Battery Penalties and Sentencing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Assault and Battery Penalties and Sentencing<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The penalties and sentences for an assault and battery conviction vary widely between the states. Punishments may range from fines to imprisonment. The punishments often depend on the offense’s severity and the offender’s criminal history.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

State law<\/a>\u00a0and each case’s circumstances also affect the potential\u00a0criminal charges<\/a>. This article summarizes potential penalties resulting from assault and battery convictions.<\/p>\n

Because of these penalties, it’s wise to get legal help right away if you might face these charges. Find a lawyer<\/a> near you to start discussing your defense options.<\/p>\n

What Is Assault and Battery?<\/h2>\n

Assault and battery both relate to physical harm against another person. Yet, they are distinct types of crimes.<\/p>\n

Before diving into criminal charges related to assault and battery, you should understand the differences between the two crimes. Also consider reading FindLaw’s\u00a0Assault and Battery Overview article<\/a>\u00a0for more in-depth information about assault and battery.<\/p>\n

Assault<\/h3>\n

An\u00a0assault<\/a>\u00a0involves threats of imminent bodily harm. Assaults don’t require actual contact with another person. Instead, it’s enough that the threat places a person in\u00a0reasonable fear<\/a>\u00a0of imminent harm. For example, if someone approaches you with their hands raised and threatens to hit you, they have assaulted you.<\/p>\n

Although state laws differ, they generally separate assaults into the following two categories:<\/p>\n