What is the difference between assault and battery in Florida?
The common public frequently mixes up these two criminal offenses (and also civil actions). Florida Statute 784.03 governs battery offenses and 784.011 governs assault offenses.
Battery requires the intentional touching of another against someone's will. Assault does not require any type of physical contact. Intentional threats and causing a well founded fear in another human being is how someone violates this statute.
For the most, simple assaults and batteries are classified as 2nd degree misdeamonors and jail time is a possibility.
If there is alcohol involved in a domestic support dispute and a suspect is charged with assault and/or battery, then there may be additional conditions that must be met before the suspect is released on his or her own cognition.
For more information, you should speak with an attorney.
Michael A. Atter
Former Prosecutor
Keith L. Maynard
Former Assistant Public Defender
Have a comment or question for us? Wood, Atter & Wolf is on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn:
Representing clients in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fernandina Beach and the rest of North Florida for over 50 years. When you are faced with criminal charges or potential criminal charges, we are At Your Side - On Your Side.
Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. - Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers - On Your Side - At Your Side