Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

What must be proven for a charge of battery to be valid?

1. Threat of harm

2. Physical contact that was offensive or harmful

3. Intent to annoy

4. Witness testimony

The correct answer is: Physical contact that was offensive or harmful

For a charge of battery to be valid, it is essential to establish that there was physical contact that was offensive or harmful. Battery, legally defined, primarily revolves around the act of causing physical harm or offensive touching to another individual, regardless of whether injury results from that action. This means that even minimal contact that is considered offensive in nature can meet the threshold for this offense. The requirement for proof of offensive or harmful contact emphasizes the element of the action itself rather than the intent behind it or the perception of the act by others. While intent can play a role in some legal interpretations, what is crucial for battery is the actual occurrence of physical contact that violates another person's bodily autonomy or dignity. This straightforward principle is foundational in understanding various forms of assault and battery within legal contexts.