Assault
Assault is the act of causing physical harm or unwanted physical contact to a person or, in some specific legal definitions, the threat or attempt to do so. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore can lead to criminal prosecution, civil liability, or both.
Traditionally, common law legal systems had separate definitions of "assault" and "battering." When this distinction is made, battery refers to actual bodily contact, while assault refers to a credible threat or attempt to cause battery. Some jurisdictions combined the two crimes into assault and battery, later known as "assault." The result is that, in many of these jurisdictions, the assault has taken on a definition that is more in line with the traditional definition of battery. [Baker, D., Glanville, W.]
Legal systems generally recognize that assaults can vary greatly. In the United States, an attacker can be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony. In England, Wales, and Australia, this can be a charge of common assault, actual bodily harm, or grievous bodily harm. Canada also has a three-tier system. Generally, there are separate charges for sexual assault, solicitation, and assault on a police officer. Assault may overlap with an attempted felony. For example, assault can be charged as attempted murder if done with the intent to kill. [Milton, J.]
Baker, D., Glanville, W. (2015). Textbook of Criminal Law. London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Milton, J. (1996). South African Criminal Law and Procedure: Common-law crimes. Cape Town: Juta & Co.