Effects Of Family Violence 7. And Legal Remedies 9. In Canada s Criminal Code, an assault is defined as the application of force, directly or indirectly, or an attempt or threat to apply force, with or without a weapon. The strength of the force applied is immaterial. Assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm , or aggravated assault are deemed more serious and carry the potential for longer sentences.
Similar definitions exist for levels of sexual assault.
Although the term assault applies to physical force, bodily harm means any hurt or injury that interferes with the health or comfort of the complainant and that is more than merely transient or trifling. With respect to psychological and emotional violence, the Criminal Code was amended in 1993 to strengthen a previous section on uttering threats to the broader concept of criminal harassment. To be convicted of this crime, the prosecution does not have to prove the offender intends to harm the victim in the future, but only that a reasonable person would be afraid, given the circumstances. This page last updated September 20, 2000.