Battery is generally a harmful or offensive contact with another person, without the person’s consent. Battery may be the basis for a criminal charge or offense. The definition and penalties for battery vary from state to state, and are usually located in a state's penal or criminal code (statutes). In some states the crimes of assault and battery are merged into one criminal offense.
Battery is also recognized in tort law as an intentional tort, and may result in civil liability (money damages) in a lawsuit against a person who commits battery.
In Alabama, battery is not defined as a separate offense in the criminal code but is encompassed under the term 'assault.' Alabama law recognizes different degrees of assault, which can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the severity of the injury caused and the circumstances surrounding the incident. For example, Alabama Code § 13A-6-20 to § 13A-6-22 outlines the definitions and penalties for assault in the first, second, and third degrees, with first-degree assault being the most serious form of the crime. In civil law, battery is considered an intentional tort in Alabama, meaning that a victim can sue the perpetrator for monetary damages. The victim must prove that the perpetrator intentionally caused harmful or offensive contact without consent. The outcome of a civil battery case can result in the defendant being ordered to pay compensatory damages, and in some cases, punitive damages to the victim.