Each case that carries a charge of assault will be different depending on the facts of the case. So before you contact a lawyer to assist you with your case, make sure you know specifically what you are charged with. Knowing this will make your lawyer's job a lot easier. For instance, depending on how the case is charged, the penalties may have a wide range of time in jail attached to them.
It's safe to say that, technically speaking, assault is a crime against a person or persons. Yes, this is pretty vague, but once the case gets to court, the judge will usually expand the definition so the jury (if there is a jury trial) understands the case at bar. For instance, if the charge is assault (bodily contact) of a person without their consent, this is assault. However, having said that, any violent act towards another individual without consent (the defining element) is also assault.
Often the terms assault and battery are partnered up, however, more often than not, battery is really a different kind of assault in a category on its own. In order to distinguish the differences as it pertains to what you are charged with, it's wise to speak to a highly skilled criminal defense attorney. Give your attorney all the details, holding nothing back, and let them outline what options you may have for the charges you're facing.
Having a highly skilled criminal defense attorney on your side is a good thing and it may mean a mitigated sentence. Once the attorney has the details of your charges they may be able to offer several options for handling your case - get the charges dropped, reduced, thrown out of court or possibly negotiated into an alternative justice program. The choices of course are ultimately yours once you have consulted with your attorney.
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