Assault Offences
Common Assault
Common assault, also known as simple assault, is the least severe category of assault offences. It involves the intentional application of force to another person without their consent, or the intentional causing of another person to apprehend immediate and unlawful violence.
Common assault is generally considered a summary offence and can carry penalties of fines or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assault refers to assault offences that involve specific aggravating factors, such as the use of a weapon, causing serious injury, or assaulting certain individuals (example : police officers, emergency workers, or public transport workers).
Aggravated assault offences carry higher penalties than common assault and can result in longer terms of imprisonment.
Recklessly Causing Injury : This offence involves recklessly causing injury to another person. Recklessness means being aware of a substantial risk that your actions may cause injury but proceeding regardless. The injury caused must be more than a trivial or temporary harm.
Recklessly causing injury is a serious offence and can result in imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Intentionally Causing Injury : Intentionally causing injury occurs when a person deliberately inflicts injury on another person, intending to cause harm. The injury caused must be more than a trivial or temporary harm. The offence carries penalties of imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Serious Injury Offences
In Victoria, there are specific offences related to causing serious injury. For example, causing serious injury intentionally, causing serious injury recklessly, and causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence are separate offences with varying penalties, depending on the circumstances and level of harm caused.
These offences can carry significant terms of imprisonment, up to a maximum of 20 years or more.