Many people know the violent history of Chris Brown. With a prior domestic violence issue already on his record, the singer Chris Brown was arrested andcharged with felony battery, according to CBS News. The domestic violence incident previously mentioned resulted in a felony conviction of assault. These are not isolated incidents, however. Several other charges over the years have been brought against Brown for varying degrees of assault and battery.

Ultimately, anyone facing charges for felony battery is encouraged to learn more about this crime. In addition, representation by a skilled attorney can also ensure that their rights are protected throughout each step of the case.

Illinois Battery Law

If you watch any crime television show, it seems like the words assault and battery are always used at the same time, interchangeably. However, these are different crimes with different definitions and characteristics. Knowing the difference between the two is essential if you are charged with one or both of these crimes.

Battery

Illinois law defines battery as causing bodily harm to another or making physical contact that is insulting or provoking to another. The perpetrator must know thathe or she iscausing the offensive touching andhas no legal basis in which to do so.

When people hear the term “assault and battery,” they often think of one crime. Assault and battery, however, are two separate crimes under Illinois law. They are related, but still different.

Assault differs from battery in that it is psychological. It usually happens in anticipation of battery. Assault refers to a threat that can be verbal or physical in nature. For example, if you threaten to kill someone, that can be considered assault. If you swing a bat at someone to scare him or her,but do not make contact, you can then be accused of assault, but not battery.

Battery involves some form of physical contact. It is a broad term that can mean anything from an unwanted hug to a punch in the face. It can also involve getting hit by an object or getting harmed by a firearm. Determining whether or not an incident should be considered battery can be confusing, though. The actual physical contact must be intentional, but the harmful nature does not have to be. Even poisoning someone’s food or blowing smoke in someone’s face can be considered battery.

Battery, unlawfully and knowingly causing physical bodily harm to someone else or making physical contact of a provoking or insulting nature with the person of another, is a serious criminal offense in the state of Illinois. Moreover, battery is punished in a variety of different ways—the severity of which depends on the circumstances surrounding the battery and the type of battery with which the offender is charged.

Battery & Aggravated Battery

Battery as defined in code section 720 ILCS 5/12-3 is a Class A misdemeanor that is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. However, in some instances, those convicted of battery will instead be sentenced to probation rather than imprisonment and be required to attend counseling and/or engage in a set amount of community service.

There is great debate these days among parenting “experts” about whether or not children should be physically disciplined when they misbehave. Some think that children should never be physically reprimanded, others believe in spanking, and some feel that more violent forms of punishment (such as hitting a child with a stick or whipping them with a belt) is permissible.

Regardless of how you feel about corporal punishment as a parenting technique, it is critical that every parent in Illinois understands the legal line that our state has drawn between physical discipline and child abuse. It should be noted that this line is not as clear-cut as you might expect; however, this article explores the legal distinction between physical discipline and abuse according to Illinois law.

The Legal Line Between Physical Discipline and Abuse