Violent Crime: Crime Against a Person

The UCR Program defines aggravated assault as "an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm."

Aggravated assault requires an actual physical attack on the victim that is intended to cause severe harm. Frequently, the only difference between a murder charge and aggravated assault charge is that the victim lives. A charge of assault, not aggravated assault, may not involve actual physical contact but can be brought when the victim experiences an unsuccessful attempted assault or was threatened in some manner by an offender.