There is always some confusion between the charges of misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor battery. In battery charges an individual has been bodily injured to some degree by the intention physical contact of another. Assault can be charged if the intent to cause bodily injury occurred, even if the physical action itself did not. With battery charges at the misdemeanor level there is the possibility of several different sentencing options. Typically these cases do not include serious bodily injury, impairment or disability or disfigurement of the victim. However, if a weapon of any type is used in the battery, the charge will be elevated to aggravated battery, resulting in felony charges and more significant punishment. Options for courts to consider with misdemeanor battery charges include probation, anger management programs or court ordered counseling, jail time, fines, restitution to the victim as well as jail time in some situations. Since this is crime that is done with the intent to cause bodily harm, there is also the option that this can be a civil tort case in addition to the criminal case.