Assault is the term for criminal acts that involve physical contact with another person. The specifics of what constitutes assault vary by state, but the crime generally involves causing bodily harm or injury to someone else. Some states also include threatening or intimidating someone with force or violence as a form of assault. The punishment for assault can range from a fine to jail or prison. It may also have consequences for your employment or housing opportunities after conviction.
In general, to be convicted of assault, your actions must cause the victim to apprehend immediate harmful or offensive contact from you. Harmful or offensive contact is typically judged from the perspective of prevailing social standards for acceptable touching. For example, spitting on the victim does not result in physical injury but may be enough to satisfy the offense of assault.
The intent requirement is important to an assault case because you must have the specific intention to cause the victim fear of attack. This is different from the requirement for battery, which requires an actual physical contact with the victim.
Most assault cases are classified as misdemeanor offenses unless you assault a member of law enforcement or other person in the performance of their duties. However, even a misdemeanor assault charge can carry serious consequences and have lasting repercussions on your life.
Some states classify assault into categories such as simple or aggravated. Simple assault typically involves an attempt to physically harm the victim but fails. For instance, swinging a fist at a politician but missing would be an example of simple assault. Aggravated assault is generally more serious and could result in a long prison sentence.