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 Arizona, the term 'battery' is not used explicitly in the criminal statutes; instead, the state refers to the offense as 'aggravated assault' under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1204. This statute encompasses acts that would traditionally be considered battery, such as intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing physical injury to another person, or touching another person with the intent to injure, insult, or provoke. Depending on the severity of the act and the harm caused, aggravated assault can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, with penalties ranging from fines to significant prison time. Additionally, Arizona recognizes battery as an intentional tort in civil law, allowing victims to sue for monetary damages. The civil claim for battery requires the plaintiff to prove that the defendant intentionally caused harmful or offensive contact without the plaintiff's consent.