Understand the allegation.
Simple assault is a Class C misdemeanor and can involve conduct that creates a reasonable fear of a battery. Simple battery is a Class A misdemeanor and involves bodily harm or insulting or provoking physical contact without legal justification. Aggravated charges are different offenses.
What a defense review may consider.
- Witness accounts, recordings, and the surrounding circumstances
- Whether identification and the alleged conduct are supported
- Whether legal justification, including self-defense, is at issue
Prepare for the next step.
Preserve relevant messages, photographs, and names of witnesses for your lawyer. Avoid contacting witnesses or the complaining person about the allegations without legal guidance, and follow all court orders.
The facts, your history, the available evidence, and the exact charge affect your options. These guides provide general information. An attorney must review the actual case before recommending a course of action.
720 ILCS 5/12-1 and 12-3 — Illinois General Assembly ↗
This guide covers misdemeanor allegations. Selected felony matters are considered separately. Statutes contain exceptions and enhancements. General information reviewed October 11, 2026; an attorney should verify current law as applied to your case.