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 North Carolina, battery is considered a harmful or offensive physical contact with another person, done without consent. It is recognized both as a criminal offense and a civil tort. Under criminal law, battery is often charged under the umbrella of assault or combined with assault as 'assault and battery.' North Carolina does not have a separate statute for battery; instead, it is prosecuted under the state's assault statutes. The penalties for assault and battery can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the injury, the use of a weapon, and the victim's status (e.g., a child, woman, or a government official). As a civil tort, a victim of battery may sue the perpetrator for monetary damages to compensate for injuries and other losses resulting from the battery. The outcome of a civil battery case can be influenced by whether the perpetrator has been criminally convicted for the same act.