{"id":373804,"date":"2016-10-27T13:08:06","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T18:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-assault-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-03-22T11:42:46","modified_gmt":"2018-03-22T16:42:46","slug":"maryland-assault-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-assault-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Assault Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Maryland Assault Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    <p><i>Created by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw&#8217;s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            March 22, 2018\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Historically, assault has been closely associated with battery as assault often refers to threats of, or attempts to cause, physical harm to another while battery refers to actual physical harm. However, in the modern era, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/assault-and-battery-overview.html\" target=\"_blank\">assault and battery<\/a> are defined differently among states, with some states incorporating all related crimes under assault.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s the case in Maryland which has different degrees of assault (not battery) based on the type of harm involved. For example, while common assault or second degree assault involves threats of, or actual, <i>offensive physical contact,<\/i> first degree assault involves threats of, or actual, <i>serious physical injury<\/i>. Offensive physical contact is that which a reasonable person would find offensive while serious physical injury is defined as those which:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a substantial risk of death; or<\/li>\n<li>Cause permanent or protracted serious disfigurement or functional loss or impairment of body parts or organs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The different degrees of assault can also apply based on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The identity of the victim (law enforcement officers, firefighters, parole officers &#8211; second degree felony assault);<\/li>\n<li>The identity of the perpetrator (inmates)<\/li>\n<li>Whether any weapons are used (firearms &#8211; first degree assault).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Maryland Assault Laws at A Glance<\/h2>\n<p>For more information on specific Maryland assault laws, see the chart below.<\/p>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"7\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody><tr><td><b>Statutes<\/b><\/td>\n<td><p><b>Maryland Criminal Code<\/b> <b><a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/md\/criminal-law\/md-code-crim-law-sect-3-202.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Section 3-202<\/a><\/b> (first degree assault)<\/p>\n<p><b>Maryland Criminal Code<\/b> <b><a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/md\/criminal-law\/md-code-crim-law-sect-3-203.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Section 3-203<\/a><\/b> (common assault and second degree assault)<\/p>\n<p><b>Maryland Criminal Code<\/b> <b><a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/md\/criminal-law\/md-code-crim-law-sect-3-205.html\" target=\"_blank\" adhocenable=\"false\" rel=\"noopener\">Section 3-205<\/a><\/b> (assault by an inmate)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Possible Penalties<\/b><\/td>\n<td><p><b><i>First Degree Assault<\/i><\/b>: This is a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Second Degree Felony Assault<\/i><\/b>: This is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Second Degree Misdemeanor Assault\/Assault By An Inmate<\/i><\/b>: This is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $2,500 in fines.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><tr><td><b>Defenses<\/b><\/td>\n<td><p>Defenses include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Self-defense<\/li>\n<li>Defense of others<\/li>\n<li>Mistake of fact<\/li>\n<li>Lack of Intent<\/li>\n<li>Coercion<\/li>\n<li>Duress<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more information see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/assault-and-battery-defenses.html\" target=\"_blank\">Assault and Battery Defenses<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<p><i><b>Note:<\/b> State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2>Related Resources for Maryland Assault Laws<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/assault-battery-intentional-torts.html\" target=\"_blank\">Assault, Battery and Intentional Torts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-involuntary-manslaughter-law.html\" target=\"_blank\">Maryland Involuntary Manslaughter Law<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-domestic-violence-laws.html\" target=\"_blank\">Maryland Domestic Violence Laws<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-rape-and-sexual-assault-laws.html\" target=\"_blank\">Maryland Rape and Sexual Assault Laws<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-criminal-statute-of-limitations-laws.html\" target=\"_blank\">Maryland Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Charged With Assault? An Attorney Can Help<\/h2>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve been charged with assault, your case is ultimately going to come down to the evidence against you; specifically, what the prosecution can prove beyond a reasonable doubt. An experienced criminal defense attorney understands how to evaluate evidence and make the strongest argument on your behalf. Don&#8217;t take your chances; contact a <a adhocenable=\"false\" href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/maryland\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maryland defense attorney<\/a> today.<\/p>\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>in the modern era, assault and battery are defined differently among states, with some states incorporating all related crimes under assault.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s the case in Maryland which has different degrees of assault (not battery) based on the type of harm involved. For example, while common assault or second degree assault involves threats of, or actual, offensive physical contact, first degree assault involves threats of, or actual, serious physical injury. Offensive physical contact is that which a reasonable person would find offensive while serious physical injury is defined as those which:<\/p>\n<p>    Create a substantial risk of death; or<br \/>\n    Cause permanent or protracted serious disfigurement or functional loss or impairment of body parts or organs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":373789,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2743],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[3030],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-373804","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-state","state_laws_tags-statelaws_21_1"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/373804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/373804\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/373789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373804"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=373804"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=373804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}