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 South Carolina, battery is defined as unlawful and non-consensual physical contact with another person. It is considered a criminal offense and is codified in the South Carolina Code of Laws, particularly under the assault and battery statutes. The severity of the charge can range from assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, which is a felony, to assault and battery in the third degree, which is a misdemeanor. The penalties for battery in South Carolina vary based on the degree of the offense and can include fines, imprisonment, or both. Additionally, South Carolina recognizes battery as an intentional tort in civil law, which means that a victim can sue the perpetrator in civil court to seek monetary damages for injuries suffered as a result of the battery.