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 Connecticut, battery is not defined as a separate offense in the criminal statutes; instead, it is encompassed under the broader category of assault. Assault in Connecticut can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the degree of harm, the intent of the perpetrator, and the circumstances of the offense (such as the use of a weapon or the status of the victim). For example, Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-59 outlines Assault in the first degree, which is a Class B felony and involves serious physical injury. Lesser degrees of assault are detailed in subsequent statutes with varying penalties. As for civil liability, a person who commits an act of battery in Connecticut may be sued for damages in a civil court. The victim of the battery would need to prove that the perpetrator acted with intent to cause harmful or offensive contact, and that such contact did indeed occur, resulting in damages. The civil action is separate from any criminal charges and is aimed at compensating the victim for injuries and other losses resulting from the battery.