Select your state

Criminal charges

assault

The crime of assault varies from state to state (and under federal law), but is generally defined as intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension or fear of an imminent (immediate) harmful or offensive contact. The crime of assault may be committed even if there is no physical contact, as the criminal physical contact constitutes the separate crime of battery.

In Louisiana, assault is defined under the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically under Title 14: Assault and Battery. According to Louisiana law, an assault is an attempt to commit a battery, or the intentional placing of another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery, without the actual physical contact. This means that if someone acts in a way that makes another person fear that they are about to be physically harmed, that can be considered assault. The state differentiates between simple assault and aggravated assault, with the latter involving more serious circumstances, such as the use of a weapon or an assault against certain protected classes of people, which can result in more severe penalties. It's important to note that battery, on the other hand, involves actual physical contact and is treated as a separate offense. Penalties for assault in Louisiana can vary based on the severity of the offense and other factors, such as the victim's status and whether a weapon was used.

Legal Articles

State Statutes

Talk to an Attorney

Legal Articles

Understanding Assault vs. Battery

The distinctions between assault and battery can be nuanced, and the circumstances surrounding the incident can significantly influence the charges and potential outcomes.

State Statutes

Louisiana State Code

Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.

LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.

The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.

You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.

The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.

Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

We have updated our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosures.