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 Kansas, assault is defined under Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 21-5412. Assault is the intentional act of placing another person in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm. This means that for an action to be considered assault in Kansas, there does not need to be physical contact; the threat or attempt alone can constitute assault if it puts someone in fear of imminent harm. The crime is considered a Class C person misdemeanor. It's important to distinguish assault from battery in Kansas, as battery involves actual physical contact and is defined separately under K.S.A. 21-5413. The penalties for assault can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the circumstances and severity of the offense.