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 Louisiana (LA), battery is defined as the intentional use of force or violence upon the person of another, or the intentional administration of a poison or other harmful substance. It is distinguished from assault, which is an attempt to commit battery or the intentional placing of another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery. Louisiana criminalizes various forms of battery, including simple battery, aggravated battery, and second-degree battery, each with different elements and penalties. Simple battery is generally a misdemeanor, while aggravated and second-degree battery are felonies, with aggravated battery involving a dangerous weapon. Penalties can include fines, imprisonment, or both, and are detailed in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically under Title 14: Criminal Law. Additionally, battery can be the basis for a civil lawsuit in Louisiana, where a victim may seek monetary damages for injuries suffered due to the intentional act of another person. This falls under the state's tort law and allows for recovery if the plaintiff can prove the elements of battery in a civil court.