What differentiates attempted battery from completed battery?

Attempted battery and completed battery are distinguished primarily by the outcome of the perpetrator's actions. Attempted battery refers to the intent to cause physical harm to another person without successfully carrying out the act, whereas completed battery involves actually inflicting harm on the victim.

In the context of this distinction, intent plays a crucial role. For an action to be classified as attempted battery, there must be a clear intent to carry out the act of battery, even if that act does not culminate in actual injury or contact. This highlights the importance of the mental state of the perpetrator prior to the assault, which is a key element in legal definitions of attempted offenses.

While the infliction of actual harm is a hallmark of completed battery, it does not apply to attempted battery. Therefore, intent is what distinctly separates the two; without the successful application of physical harm, the emphasis shifts to the intention behind the action. The other factors, such as the presence of witnesses or immediate danger, do not inherently differentiate between attempted and completed battery and instead pertain to context or perception of the act itself.