Sometimes the term aggravated assault is used synonymously with felonious assault. Assault and battery is a subclass of felonious assault. Assault and battery is the result of an incident where actual contact has been made and medical treatment is necessary. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Report ranks violent crimes according to a crime hierarchy. The most serious violent crime is homicide, followed by rape, robbery, and felonious assault.
Felonious assault can be a crime against strangers, family, friends, or acquaintances.
The reported felonious assaults are not committed during homicide, rape, or robbery. Thus, many of the reported felonious assaults may have resulted from arguments or feuds which escalated. Due to non-reporting and crime hierarchy, the number of felonious assaults is likely underestimated. Fatal assaults are addressed in the homicide section.