Assault is a legal term used in criminal offenses to describe any type of intentional attempt or a threat to inflict injury on a person. It also includes the apparent and present ability of the person to cause harm. The other person has reasonable apprehension that there could be bodily harm or other types of offensive contact made. Under the United State's laws, assault charges do not have to include any type of physical contact or bodily harm to the victim. The term battery is also often used in describing assault type charges, but it includes the unjustified harmful or offensive touching of another person, specifically including the touching aspect of the charge. Both types of charges are considered criminal offenses although the extent of that charge is dependent on the actual case in hand.