What are the penalties for an assault charge?

Assault, or first degree assault, is defined as inflicting bodily harm on another. In all states assault is considered a serious crime with serious penalties. In many states, first degree assault may include but is not limited to:

• Causing serious bodily injury to another person.
• Intentionally disfiguring or disabling another person.
• Knowingly creating a risk of death that results in serious bodily injury to another.
• Intentionally causing or attempting serious bodily injury to a police officer, firefighter, or judge, by threatening them with a deadly weapon.

Penalties and Sentencing for First Degree Assault

Sentencing and penalties often depend on the circumstances of the crime as well as the state in which the crime occurred. Penalties may include a substantial number of years in prison as well as exorbitant fines. For example, in Connecticut, a person convicted of first degree assault faces a minimum of 5 years and maximum of up to 20 years in prison. The defendant also must pay a fee of up to $15,000.

Aggravated Assault

Related to first degree assault is aggravated assault, sometimes referred to as felonious assault. Aggravated assault is the unlawful intent or attempt to injure or cause serious bodily harm to another with or without the use of a weapon. The injury does not need to be serious to bring charges under the crime. If a threat is made and it was reasonable for the victim to believe that serious injury might occur, aggravated assault can be charged, with or without a weapon.

Penalties and Sentencing for Aggravated Assault

The following are expected penalties for someone charged with aggravated assault:

If you face an assault charge, you will need an attorney to defend you against possible prosecution. Find an experienced defense attorney to protect your rights throughout the case.