Top Decatur, GA Criminal Battery Lawyers Near You
Over 25 Years Experience in Helping Clients with Their Criminal Defense.
Free Consultation
Accused of A Crime? You Deserve Skilled Advice. Call Me Today!
Free Consultation
4056 Wetherburn Way NW, Suite 3, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
The Carnell Law Firm, LLC has years of experience helping clients with their Criminal Battery needs in Decatur, Georgia.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
123 Church Street NE, Suite 220, Marietta, GA 30060
David West & Associates has experience helping clients with their Criminal Battery needs in Decatur, Georgia.
Free Consultation
21 Lee Street, Jonesboro, GA 30236
The Frey Law Firm has experience helping clients with their Criminal Battery needs in Decatur, Georgia.
50 Hurt Plaza, The Hurt Building, Suite 1145, Atlanta, GA 30303
Other Nearby Offices
Law Offices of David N. Ghazi has experience helping clients with their Criminal Battery needs in Decatur, Georgia.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
215 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030
Clients needing legal solutions for Criminal Battery can connect with The Maloof Law Firm, a local Georgia practice.
480 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE, Unit 190, Atlanta, GA 30312
6474 Georgia Highway 400, Cumming, GA 30028
Building F, 309 Pirkle Ferry Road, Cumming, GA 30040
1180 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1600, Atlanta, GA 30309-3521
1331 Spring St NW, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30309
1230 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30309
315 West Ponce De Leon Avenue, Suite 400, Decatur, GA 30030
3101 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite 124, Suwanee, GA 30339
999 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1500, Atlanta, GA 30309
1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1700, Atlanta, GA 30309
2415 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross, GA 30071
171 17th Street, N.W., Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30363
912 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Suite 203, Roswell, GA 30076
170 Anderson St. SE, Marietta, GA 30060
310 Tanner Street, Carrollton, GA 30117
2039 Dayron Court, Marietta, GA 30062
1735 Pennsylvania Avenue, McDonough, GA 30253
630 Village Trace Building 15, Suite E, Marietta, GA 30067
8473 Earl D Lee Blvd, Suite 300, Douglasville, GA 30134
125 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 470, Decatur, GA 30030
Decatur Criminal Battery Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Criminal Battery attorneys in Decatur and checks their standing with Georgia bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is Criminal Battery?
The crime of battery refers to an incident in which the offender engages in unlawful (and unwanted) harmful or offensive physical contact with the victim. Whether or not the contact needs to be intentional depends on the laws where the offense occurred, as what constitutes battery varies by state and jurisdiction.
What Are Some Types of Criminal Battery?
Criminal battery, or simple battery, is just one form of battery under U.S. federal and state law.
Sexual battery takes place when non-consensual touching, groping or other unwanted and offensive sexual acts are visited upon the victim by the offender. At a nightclub, if a man gropes a woman who is dancing without her consent, he may face charges related to sexual battery if the victim deigns to pursue the matter in court.
Family-violence battery, or domestic violence battery, takes place when a family member — typically a spouse ‚— is violent toward the victim.
Aggravated battery is an escalation of simple battery, and is typically charged when an instance of battery involves a deadly weapon such as a knife or gun, or when the battery results in serious bodily harm as concerns the victim. When a battery takes place against a protected class of persons (as a result of a hate crime, targeting police officers or other public officials, or targets the elderly, the infirm, or a child), aggravated battery charges may also be the end result.
What Is the Difference Between Criminal Assault and Criminal Battery?
The primary difference between criminal assault and criminal battery is that the former does not require that the offender actually made physical contact with the victim, while the latter holds this element as requisite for charges.
To provide an example, a man who threatens (seriously, and with intent) another patron of a football game with violence, making intimidating gestures and who throws an empty bottle at the victim and misses, could be charged with the crime of assault. Had the empty bottle actually struck the victim, the offender could instead be charged with battery.
What Are the Possible Penalties for Criminal Battery?
The penalties for battery range depending on the individual context of the case. If there is a beating or strike involved, or a wound created (bruise, gash, etc.) the maximum sentence is one year from the federal court. If a dangerous weapon is used, the maximum penalty jumps up to 10 years incarceration. Further, if there is an actual intent to commit murder, the maximum penalty is enhanced to 20 years in jail.
State laws vary in their treatment of criminal battery, generally distinguishing between simple battery and aggravated battery. Simple battery typically results in a first degree misdemeanor charge with a maximum sentence of one year in jail as well as a one year probation period. However, in some states, aggravated battery is classified as a second degree felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. This maximum penalty can be accompanied by mandatory minimum sentencing enhancements if a firearm is present during the commission of an offense, and even further enhancements apply if said firearm is discharged or is used to harm another.
How Much Jail Time for Criminal Battery in Georgia?
Simple battery typically results in a sentence of up to one year in jail for those found guilty, with most punishments being lessened for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders may see stiffer penalties in response to their convictions. By contrast, aggravated battery is typically categorized as a felony deserving of a sentence ranging from three to six years, or 10 or more years for repeat offenders — or for aggravated battery with one or more sentencing enhancements (as mentioned above) attached.
When faced with criminal battery charges, the best thing to do is contact a criminal battery lawyer as soon as possible. A criminal battery charge can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the state and also what happened. You won’t want to face these charges alone.