Assault on a Police Officer by State (2026)
How each state handles assaulting a police officer, from each state's code and official agencies.
| State | Assaulting a police officer |
|---|---|
| Alabama | In Alabama, intending to injure and causing physical injury while trying to stop a peace officer, jail or prison officer, emergency medical worker, utility worker or firefighter from doing a lawful duty is assault in the second degree, a Class C felony (1 year and 1 day to 10 years); the same applies to injuring teachers, public school employees and listed health care workers on duty. Simple assault (assault in the third degree, such as intentionally or recklessly causing physical injury) is a Class A misdemeanor, and causing physical injury to any person while intending to stop a peace officer's lawful duty is also third-degree assault. The felony grade applies when injury is intended and the victim is one of the listed workers on duty. Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-6-21(a)(4)-(6), (b); 13A-6-22 |
| Alaska | Alaska has no separate crime of assaulting a police officer; the general assault statutes apply, with tougher sentences when the victim is an on-duty officer or responder. For fourth-degree assault (a class A misdemeanor, up to 1 year) knowingly directed at a uniformed or clearly identified peace officer, firefighter, correctional employee, EMT, paramedic, ambulance attendant, other emergency responder or medical professional on duty, the minimum jail term is 60 days for causing injury (or for first-degree harassment under AS 11.61.118) and 30 days for placing the person in fear of injury. For a first class A felony conviction, the presumptive range rises from 4-7 years to 7-11 years when the conduct was knowingly directed at such an on-duty officer or responder, and murdering an on-duty peace officer, firefighter or correctional employee carries a mandatory 99 years. AS 12.55.135(d)(1); AS 11.41.230; AS 12.55.125(c)(1)-(2)(A), 12.55.125(a)(1) |
| Arizona | In Arizona, an assault committed knowing or having reason to know the victim is a first responder (including a peace officer) is aggravated assault, a class 4 felony, or a class 3 felony if the first responder suffers any physical injury; it is no defense that the officer was off duty. The same aggravated assault paragraph covers other listed workers such as constables, teachers and school employees, health care workers, prosecutors, public defenders, judicial officers, code enforcement officers, park rangers and transit and airport employees. Simple assault, by contrast, is a misdemeanor: class 1 for intentionally or knowingly causing physical injury, class 2 if reckless, and class 3 for threats or offensive touching. A.R.S. §§ 13-1204(A)(8), (E), (G); 13-1203(A)-(B) |
| Arkansas | In Arkansas, knowingly causing physical injury to a law enforcement officer, firefighter, code enforcement officer or correctional employee acting in the line of duty is battery in the second degree, a Class D felony (up to 6 years); the same applies to teachers and school employees, state employees, and physicians, EMS personnel and other health care providers on duty. Purposely transferring bodily fluids onto a known officer or correctional employee is aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, a Class D felony, and firing a gun intending to seriously injure or kill an on-duty officer under listed circumstances is a Class Y felony. Ordinary battery in the third degree (purposely causing physical injury) is a Class A misdemeanor, and spitting or throwing bodily substances on a first responder is also a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory $2,500 fine and 30 days in jail. Ark. Code §§ 5-13-202(a)(4), (b); 5-13-211; 5-13-203 |
| California | California punishes simple assault and battery more heavily when the victim is a peace officer or other listed worker on duty and the offender knows or should know it. Simple assault is normally up to 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine; assault on an on-duty peace officer, firefighter, EMT, lifeguard, process server, traffic officer, code enforcement or animal control officer, search and rescue member, or emergency medical worker is up to 1 year in county jail and/or a $2,000 fine. Simple battery is normally up to 6 months and/or $2,000; battery on those workers (and custodial officers, security officers and others) is up to 1 year and/or $2,000. If the battery causes injury, it is a 'wobbler': up to 1 year in jail or 16 months, 2 or 3 years under Penal Code 1170(h), with a fine of up to $2,000, or up to $10,000 when the victim is a peace officer. Cal. Penal Code 241(a), (c); 243(a), (b), (c)(1)-(2) |
| Colorado | In Colorado, intentionally causing bodily injury to anyone while trying to stop someone you know or should know is a peace officer, firefighter or emergency medical provider from performing a lawful duty is assault in the second degree, a class 4 felony (class 6 if done in a sudden heat of passion); intentionally causing serious bodily injury in that situation is also second-degree assault and is sentenced under the crime-of-violence sentencing statute, though a prison term is not mandatory. Violently applying force to a peace officer, firefighter, EMS provider, judge or detention worker while in custody, or causing an officer or first responder on duty to contact bodily fluids with intent to infect, injure or harm, is second-degree assault too, and a sentence for the in-custody offense must be served consecutively in prison. Ordinary assault in the third degree (knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury), and exposing an officer or first responder to bodily fluids with intent to harass or annoy, is a class 1 misdemeanor. C.R.S. §§ 18-3-203(1)(c), (c.5), (f), (h), (2)(a)-(c); 18-3-204(1), (3) |
| Connecticut | Assaulting a police officer (or a firefighter, EMS worker, emergency room doctor or nurse, health care employee, correction employee, probation officer, public transit employee, security officer or other listed worker) on duty, with intent to stop them from performing their duties, is a class C felony (1 to 10 years, up to $10,000). It covers causing physical injury or throwing objects, mace-like agents, paint or bodily fluids at the worker. By comparison, ordinary simple assault (assault in the third degree) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). An inmate's sentence for assaulting a Department of Correction employee must run consecutively to the sentence being served. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-167c, 53a-61; 53a-35a |
| Delaware | Intentionally causing physical injury to an on-duty police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, correctional officer, sheriff, transit operator or other listed public worker is assault in the second degree, a class D felony (up to 8 years); using disabling chemical spray on an officer is also second-degree assault, and using an electronic control device (such as a stun gun) on police, fire or EMS personnel is a class C felony (up to 15 years). Intentionally causing serious physical injury to these workers is first-degree assault, a class B felony (2 to 25 years). By comparison, ordinary assault causing physical injury is third-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). 11 Del. C. §§ 611, 612(a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(12), (d), 613(a)(5), (c) |
| District of Columbia | Assaulting a law enforcement officer (broadly defined to include police, special police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, correctional and juvenile-facility staff, and certain investigators, inspectors and supervision staff) because of or while performing official duties is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months. It becomes a felony punishable by up to 10 years if the person causes significant bodily injury or commits a violent act that creates a grave risk of significant bodily injury. Using force to resist an arrest by someone the person has reason to believe is an officer is not a justification, whether or not the arrest is lawful. By comparison, ordinary simple assault carries up to 180 days. D.C. Code §§ 22-405(a)-(d), 22-404(a) |
| Florida | Knowingly assaulting or battering a law enforcement officer (or a firefighter, emergency medical provider, hospital worker, public transit employee, licensed uniformed security officer, utility worker on critical infrastructure and other listed workers) on duty raises the charge one level: assault from a second- to a first-degree misdemeanor, battery from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, aggravated assault from a third- to a second-degree felony (3-year minimum for an officer), and aggravated battery from a second- to a first-degree felony (5-year minimum for an officer). Battery on an officer while possessing a firearm or destructive device carries a 3-year minimum, and battery on an officer during a riot carries a 6-month minimum. Fla. Stat. § 784.07(1)-(3) |
| Georgia | Simple battery on a police, correction or detention officer doing official duties is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature, compared with an ordinary misdemeanor for simple battery on anyone else. Aggravated assault on a public safety officer on duty carries 10 to 20 years (10-year mandatory minimum) if a firearm is discharged, 5 to 20 years with a 3-year mandatory minimum for other weapons, and 5 to 20 years when only the body is used, plus a fine of at least $2,000; general aggravated assault carries 1 to 20 years. O.C.G.A. §§ 16-5-23(b), (e), 16-5-21(b), (c) |
| Hawaii | Intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a law enforcement officer on duty (or recklessly or negligently injuring one with a dangerous instrument) is assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree, a class C felony, with a mandatory sentence of either 5 years' imprisonment or 5 years' probation including at least 30 days in jail. Recklessly causing bodily injury to an officer is second-degree assault against an officer, a misdemeanor with at least 30 days in jail that cannot be suspended or replaced by probation. Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 707-712.5, 707-712.6 |
| Idaho | Simple assault in Idaho is punishable by up to 3 months in jail and/or $1,000, and simple battery by up to 6 months and/or $1,000. Battery (other than unlawful touching) on a peace officer, sheriff or police officer because of their duties or while on duty is a felony punishable by up to 5 years, served consecutively to any current sentence; the same felony applies to assault or battery on judges, jailers, correctional staff and juvenile detention and probation staff. For other assault and battery crimes against a long list of public workers (including firefighters, EMS personnel, prosecutors, public defenders, dispatchers and caseworkers), the normal punishment is doubled, and battery with intent to commit a serious felony carries up to 25 years. Idaho Code §§ 18-915, 18-902, 18-904 |
| Illinois | In Illinois, simple assault (placing someone in reasonable fear of a battery) is a Class C misdemeanor and simple battery is a Class A misdemeanor, but both become aggravated offenses when the victim is a known peace officer, firefighter or other listed worker performing official duties, or targeted to prevent or retaliate for those duties. Aggravated assault of a peace officer, firefighter, emergency management worker or EMS worker is a Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years). Aggravated battery of a peace officer, community policing volunteer, firefighter, private security officer or correctional institution employee is a Class 2 felony (3 to 7 years), and a Class 1 felony (4 to 15 years) if it causes great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement; discharging a firearm and injuring an on-duty officer is a Class X felony with a 15 to 60 year term. 720 ILCS 5/12-1(b); 12-3(b); 12-2(b)(4.1), (d); 12-3.05(a)(3), (d)(4), (e)(2), (h) |
| Indiana | In Indiana, simple battery (a rude, insolent or angry touching) is a Class B misdemeanor, but battery against a 'public safety official' (law enforcement officers, jail and prison staff, probation and parole officers, firefighters, EMS providers, judicial officers, bailiffs and others) while the official is performing official duties is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2 1/2 years), and a Level 5 felony (1 to 6 years) if it causes bodily injury or if the person places bodily fluid or waste on the official knowing it is infected with hepatitis, tuberculosis or HIV. These enhancements do not apply to a person detained or committed for mental health treatment under IC 12-26. IC 35-42-2-1 (definitions of 'public safety official'; battery subsections for Class B misdemeanor, Level 6 and Level 5 felony) |
| Iowa | Simple assault in Iowa is generally a simple misdemeanor. Assaulting a peace officer, jailer, correctional or juvenile detention staff, parole board member or employee, firefighter, emergency health care provider, national guard member on duty, or certain other listed public employees, knowing their status, is: a class C felony with intent to inflict serious injury or when a dangerous weapon is used or displayed; a class D felony if it causes bodily injury or mental illness; and otherwise an aggravated misdemeanor (including spitting on the person) with a mandatory minimum of 7 days in jail that cannot be suspended. Iowa Code §§ 708.3A, 708.2 (Iowa Code 2026) |
| Kansas | Simple assault (placing someone in fear of immediate bodily harm) is a class C person misdemeanor and simple battery a class B person misdemeanor in Kansas. Against a uniformed or identified law enforcement officer on duty, assault is a class A person misdemeanor and aggravated assault (with a deadly weapon, disguised, or with intent to commit a felony) a severity level 6 person felony. Battery against an officer is a class A person misdemeanor for rude or insulting contact and a severity level 7 person felony for causing bodily harm; battery of a correctional officer by an inmate is a severity level 5 person felony; aggravated battery against an officer is a severity level 3 or 4 person felony. The battery provisions also cover judges, prosecutors and court services and community corrections officers on duty. K.S.A. 21-5412(c)-(e), 21-5413(c), (d), (g) |
| Kentucky | Ordinary assault causing physical injury (fourth-degree assault) is a Class A misdemeanor in Kentucky. Intentionally causing or trying to cause physical injury to a peace officer (or recklessly doing so with a deadly weapon) is assault in the third degree, a Class D felony (1-5 years), or a Class C felony (5-10 years) if committed in a declared disaster emergency area. The same third-degree offense covers detention facility staff, probation and parole officers, firefighters, EMS and rescue personnel, social workers, school employees and volunteers, and certain health care workers. Intentionally causing a peace officer to come into contact with bodily fluids is also third-degree assault. KRS 508.025, 508.030 |
| Louisiana | Battery of a police officer (a battery on someone the offender has reasonable grounds to believe is a police officer on duty, including sheriffs, deputies, marshals, correctional and juvenile detention officers, constables, wildlife agents, park wardens and probation and parole officers, and including throwing liquids or bodily waste) carries up to $500 and 15 days to six months in jail with no suspended sentence. A second offense carries 1 to 3 years and up to $1,000; an injury needing medical attention carries 1 to 5 years and/or up to $1,000 (2 to 5 years and up to $2,000 on a second offense); and an offender in custody faces 1 to 5 years without parole, consecutive to other sentences. By comparison, simple battery carries up to $1,000 and/or six months. Separate laws cover battery of school teachers, correctional facility employees, child welfare workers and sports officials. La. R.S. 14:34.2; R.S. 14:35 |
| Maine | Assault on an officer is a Class C crime in Maine (up to 5 years and $5,000). It covers intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to a law enforcement officer performing official duties, and an assault by a person in custody on a corrections officer or other institution staff member on duty. By comparison, simple assault (causing bodily injury or offensive physical contact) is a Class D crime (less than one year and up to $2,000) with a minimum $300 fine. 17-A M.R.S. §752-A; §207; §§1604(1), 1704 |
| Maryland | In Maryland, intentionally causing physical injury (more than a minor injury) to someone the person knows or should know is a law enforcement officer, a parole or probation agent, or a firefighter, EMT or other first responder performing their duties is the felony of second-degree assault, punishable by up to 10 years and/or a $5,000 fine. Ordinary second-degree assault is a misdemeanor with the same 10-year maximum but a fine of up to $2,500. Md. Code, Crim. Law §3-203(b), (c) |
| Massachusetts | Assault and battery on a public employee (including police officers) performing their duties carries 90 days to 2.5 years in a house of correction and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000; since March 3, 2026 this also covers public transit workers and assault by bodily fluids. If it includes an attempt to disarm a police officer, the maximum is 10 years in state prison. Assault and battery causing serious bodily injury to a police officer carries 1 to 10 years with a mandatory minimum of 1 year that cannot be suspended, and a fine of $500 to $10,000 may be added. By comparison, ordinary assault or assault and battery carries up to 2.5 years in a house of correction or a $1,000 fine. G.L. c. 265, §13D; G.L. c. 265, §13A(a) |
| Michigan | In Michigan, assaulting, battering, wounding, resisting or obstructing a police officer, conservation officer, sheriff, constable, firefighter, emergency medical worker or search-and-rescue worker whom the person knows is performing their duties is a felony punishable by up to 2 years and/or $2,000. If it causes bodily injury requiring medical care, the maximum is 4 years and/or $5,000; serious impairment of a body function, 15 years and/or $10,000; death, 20 years and/or $20,000. By comparison, ordinary assault or assault and battery is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days and/or a $500 fine. MCL 750.81d; MCL 750.81(1) |
| Minnesota | Physically assaulting a peace officer who is making a lawful arrest or performing other duties is fourth-degree assault, a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $3,000). It is a felony punishable by up to 3 years and/or $6,000 if the assault causes demonstrable bodily harm or the person intentionally throws bodily fluids or feces at the officer. Similar rules cover firefighters, emergency medical personnel and emergency room staff, and assaults on correctional employees, prosecutors, judges and probation officers are felonies of up to 2 years. By comparison, ordinary fifth-degree assault is a misdemeanor. Minn. Stat. §609.2231, subds. 1-3; §609.224, subd. 1 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi raises the penalty when an assault victim is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical worker, health care worker, jail officer, teacher or school bus driver, judge, prosecutor, public defender, court clerk, utility worker, National Guard or military member, or another listed public worker acting within the scope of duty. Simple assault normally carries up to $500 and/or 6 months in county jail; against a listed person it carries up to $1,000 and/or up to 5 years. Aggravated assault normally carries up to 1 year in county jail or up to 20 years in prison; against a listed person it carries up to $5,000 and/or up to 30 years. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-7(1), (2), (14) |
| Missouri | Missouri raises the grade of each degree of assault when the victim is a 'special victim,' which includes a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical or hospital emergency worker, probation and parole officer, or jailer or corrections officer assaulted while on duty or because of their duties, as well as highway workers in work zones, utility and cable workers, and mass transit employees on the job. First-degree assault becomes a class A felony (10-30 years or life); second-degree assault rises from a class D to a class B felony (5-15 years); third-degree assault (knowingly causing physical injury) rises from a class E to a class D felony (up to 7 years); and the lowest form of fourth-degree assault (threats or offensive contact) rises from a class C to a class A misdemeanor. RSMo §§ 565.002 (special victim), 565.050, 565.052, 565.054, 565.056, 558.011 |
| Montana | Assault on a peace officer or judicial officer is a separate felony in Montana. Purposely or knowingly causing bodily injury to an officer or judge, causing bodily injury with a weapon, or causing fear of serious bodily injury with a weapon carries 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $50,000; using what only appears to be a weapon carries up to 10 years; causing serious bodily injury carries 5 to 20 years and/or up to $50,000. 'Peace officer' includes anyone, sworn or not, responsible for the care or custody of adult or youth offenders. By comparison, simple assault on anyone else is a misdemeanor with up to $500 and/or 6 months in county jail. MCA §§ 45-5-210, 45-5-201 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska has separate felonies for assaulting a peace officer, probation officer, firefighter, emergency care provider, corrections employee or on-duty hospital or clinic health care professional while on duty. Intentionally or knowingly causing serious bodily injury is first-degree assault on an officer, a Class ID felony (3 to 50 years); causing bodily injury with a dangerous instrument is second-degree, a Class II felony (1 to 50 years); intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing any bodily injury is third-degree, a Class IIIA felony (up to 3 years); and injuring one by running into them or their vehicle with a motor vehicle is a Class IIIA felony. By comparison, ordinary third-degree assault causing bodily injury is a Class I misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-929, 28-930, 28-931, 28-931.01, 28-310 |
| Nevada | Nevada raises the grade of assault and battery against officers and other listed workers on duty, including health care providers, school employees, transit operators, taxicab drivers, utility workers, hospitality employees and sports officials. Assault (threat or attempt) is normally a misdemeanor; against a listed person it is a gross misdemeanor, or a category B felony (1 to 6 years and/or up to $5,000) with a deadly weapon. Battery (unlawful force) is normally a misdemeanor; against a listed person it is a gross misdemeanor, or a category B felony (2 to 10 years and/or up to $10,000) if it causes substantial bodily harm or is committed by strangulation. NRS 200.471(2), 200.481(2) |
| New Hampshire | In New Hampshire, knowingly causing bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, firefighter (paid, volunteer or on-call) or licensed emergency medical provider acting in the line of duty, or to an officer off duty because of their police work, is second-degree assault, a class B felony (up to 7 years). From January 1, 2027, the same applies to hospital emergency room personnel. Ordinary simple assault causing bodily injury is a misdemeanor. A judge may also impose an extended term for other assault crimes when the defendant knew the victim was an on-duty officer, firefighter or emergency medical provider. Harming a legislator, executive councilor, governor or judge to influence or retaliate for official acts is a class A felony. RSA 631:2, I(g)-(h), 631:2-a, 651:6, I(g), 631:4-a |
| New Jersey | Simple assault is normally a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months). A simple assault on a law enforcement officer performing duties (or because of the officer's status) is aggravated assault: a crime of the fourth degree (up to 18 months), or third degree (3-5 years) if the officer suffers bodily injury, or second degree (5-10 years) if the officer suffers serious bodily injury. The same upgrade applies to assaults on firefighters, EMS workers, school employees, judges, corrections and probation officers, utility workers, health care workers and retail store employees on duty; an assault on a bus or rail operator is third degree. A conviction for assaulting a law enforcement officer does not merge with any other conviction. N.J.S. 2C:12-1(a), (b)(5); N.J.S. 2C:43-6 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico has separate crimes for assaults on peace officers in the lawful discharge of their duties. Simple assault and battery are petty misdemeanors, but assault upon a peace officer is a misdemeanor and battery upon a peace officer (rude, insolent or angry touching) is a fourth degree felony (18 months). Aggravated assault upon a peace officer (with a deadly weapon, while disguised, or with intent to commit a felony) is a third degree felony (3 years); assault on a peace officer with intent to kill is a second degree felony (9 years). Aggravated battery upon a peace officer is a fourth degree felony if it causes painful temporary disfigurement or temporary loss of function, and a second degree felony if it causes great bodily harm or is done with a deadly weapon or in a way that could cause death or great bodily harm. NMSA 1978, 30-3-1, 30-3-4, 30-22-21, 30-22-22, 30-22-23, 30-22-24, 30-22-25 |
| New York | Intentionally causing physical injury to a police officer, peace officer, firefighter, EMT or paramedic (and other listed workers such as nurses, prosecutors, traffic agents and sanitation workers) to prevent them from performing a lawful duty is assault in the second degree, a class D felony (up to 7 years). Causing serious physical injury to a police officer, peace officer, firefighter or EMS worker with intent to prevent a lawful duty is assault on a peace officer, police officer, firefighter or emergency medical services professional, a class C felony (up to 15 years). Intentionally causing serious physical injury to an on-duty police or peace officer with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument is aggravated assault upon a police officer or a peace officer, a class B felony (up to 25 years). N.Y. Penal Law 120.05(3), 120.08, 120.11 |
| North Carolina | Simple assault is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Assaulting a state or local government officer or employee while they perform official duties is a Class A1 misdemeanor. Assaulting a law enforcement, probation or parole officer on duty and causing physical injury (including cuts, scrapes and bruises) is a Class H felony; causing serious bodily injury is a Class E felony. The same felony rules cover detention facility employees and National Guard members on duty. G.S. 14-33(a), (c)(4); G.S. 14-34.7 |
| North Dakota | Simple assault (willfully causing bodily injury) is normally a Class B misdemeanor (up to 30 days), but it is a Class C felony (up to 5 years) when the victim is a peace officer or correctional employee acting in an official capacity, which the attacker knows; the same applies to firefighters, EMS personnel, emergency department and hospital workers giving essential patient care, people in a judicial proceeding, and certain state hospital employees. Aggravated assault (such as causing serious bodily injury or using a dangerous weapon) is normally a Class C felony but becomes a Class B felony (up to 10 years) when the victim is a peace officer or correctional employee acting in an official capacity. N.D.C.C. 12.1-17-01(2); 12.1-17-02(2)(b) |
| Ohio | Simple assault is a misdemeanor of the first degree (up to 180 days). Assault on a peace officer, BCI investigator, firefighter or emergency medical services worker performing official duties is a felony of the fourth degree (6-18 months); if the victim is a peace officer or BCI investigator who suffers serious physical harm, the court must impose a mandatory prison term of at least twelve months. R.C. 2903.13(C)(1), (C)(5)(a), (C)(6) (eff. Oct. 3, 2023) |
| Oklahoma | Assault on a police officer, sheriff or deputy, highway patrol trooper, corrections worker or state peace officer performing official duties is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months and/or a $500 fine, and battery or assault and battery on such an officer (including reaching for the officer's gun) is a Class B5 felony punishable by up to 5 years. Aggravated assault and battery on an officer is a felony punishable by up to life, and if it maims the officer, 5 years to life. Simple assault and assault and battery against other people are misdemeanors with county-jail terms of 6 months or less. 21 O.S. §§ 649, 650, 644(A)-(B) |
| Oregon | Intentionally or knowingly injuring a police officer, corrections or youth correction officer, parole and probation officer, animal control officer, firefighter or corrections staff member doing official duties is 'assaulting a public safety officer,' a Class C felony (up to 5 years) with a mandatory minimum of 7 days in jail, or 14 days if the victim is a peace officer. Injuring an emergency medical services provider, a public transit or taxi operator, or a flagger or highway worker is third-degree assault, also a Class C felony. By comparison, causing physical injury to someone else is usually fourth-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor. ORS 163.208, 163.165(1)(d), (g), (i), (j), 163.160 |
| Pennsylvania | Causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to a police officer, firefighter, sheriff, probation or parole officer, corrections employee or other listed public worker (including judges, prosecutors, public defenders, emergency medical personnel, teachers and other school employees, health care practitioners and public utility employees) in the performance of duty is aggravated assault, a felony of the second degree (up to 10 years); causing or attempting serious bodily injury to any of them (or to a public transportation employee) is a felony of the first degree (up to 20 years). Injuring a law enforcement officer by firing a gun is 'assault of a law enforcement officer,' a first-degree felony with up to 40 years, and throwing bodily fluids at an officer is a third-degree felony. By comparison, simple assault is usually a misdemeanor of the second degree (up to 2 years). 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 2702(a)(2)-(3), (b), (c), 2702.1, 2701(b) |
| Rhode Island | Assault or battery that causes bodily injury, by striking or spraying with Mace or pepper spray, to an on-duty police officer, firefighter, deputy sheriff, probation or parole officer, judge, prosecutor, RIPTA bus driver or other listed official is a felony punishable by up to 3 years and/or a $1,500 fine. By comparison, simple assault or battery is punishable by up to 1 year and/or a $1,000 fine. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-5-5, 11-5-3(a) |
| South Carolina | In South Carolina, knowingly and wilfully assaulting, beating or wounding a law enforcement officer who is serving legal process, or while resisting an arrest by someone the person knows or should know is an officer, is a felony punishable by up to 10 years and/or a $1,000 to $10,000 fine. Resisting arrest without assault is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $500 to $1,000). By comparison, third-degree assault and battery (simple assault) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days and/or a $500 fine. S.C. Code §§ 16-9-320(A)-(B), 16-3-600(E) |
| South Dakota | In South Dakota, a simple assault on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, ambulance worker, Department of Corrections employee or contractor, or other public officer performing official duties is a Class 6 felony (up to 2 years), and an aggravated assault on them is a Class 2 felony (up to 25 years). The same penalties apply to assaults on health care facility staff during patient care. By comparison, simple assault on others is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year), becoming a felony only on a third or later offense within 10 years. SDCL 22-18-1.05, 22-18-1 |
| Tennessee | Assaulting a law enforcement officer who is performing official duties is a Class E felony (1 to 6 years) with a mandatory $10,000 fine and a mandatory minimum of 60 days in jail served in full; assaulting a first responder (such as a firefighter or emergency services worker) or a nurse on duty is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory $5,000 fine and at least 30 days. Aggravated assault against any of them (serious bodily injury or death, a deadly weapon, or strangulation) is a Class C felony (3 to 15 years) with a mandatory $15,000 fine and at least 90 days. By comparison, simple assault causing bodily injury is a Class A misdemeanor, and offensive contact alone is a Class B misdemeanor. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-116; § 39-13-101; § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Assault causing bodily injury is normally a Class A misdemeanor in Texas, but it is a second-degree felony (2 to 20 years) against a person the actor knows is a peace officer or judge performing official duties or in retaliation for them, and a third-degree felony (2 to 10 years) against other public servants, security officers, emergency services personnel, hospital personnel, process servers and utility workers on duty. Aggravated assault (serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon) against a public servant on duty is a first-degree felony (5 to 99 years or life). Tex. Penal Code §§ 22.01(b), (b-2), 22.02(b) |
| Utah | Assault or threat of violence against a peace officer (or an officer's family member because of the officer's status) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $2,500), compared with a class B misdemeanor for most simple assaults. It is a third degree felony if it causes substantial bodily injury or the actor has a prior conviction for this offense, and a second degree felony if a dangerous weapon or force likely to cause death or serious injury is used. A second offense carries at least 90 consecutive days in jail and each later offense at least 180 days, unless the court suspends it with findings. Aggravated assault on an officer causing serious bodily injury is a first degree felony. Utah Code §§ 76-5-102.4, 76-5-102, 76-5-103 |
| Vermont | Assaulting a 'protected professional' (a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical worker, hospital health care worker, or Department for Children and Families worker) while they perform a lawful duty adds an extra penalty on top of the simple or aggravated assault penalty: up to one more year for a first offense and up to 10 years for a second or later offense. Intentionally causing bodily fluids to contact a protected professional on duty is punishable by up to one year and/or $1,000. Simple assault alone is punishable by up to one year and/or $1,000. 13 V.S.A. §§ 1028, 1023 |
| Virginia | Simple assault or assault and battery is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia, but assault and battery against a person the offender knows or should know is a law-enforcement officer, judge, magistrate, firefighter, emergency medical services worker or certain correctional staff performing their duties is a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years) with a mandatory minimum of six months. Va. Code § 18.2-57 |
| Washington | Simple assault in Washington is fourth degree assault, a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $5,000). Assaulting a law enforcement officer who is performing official duties is assault in the third degree, a class C felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000). More serious attacks are charged as second degree (class B) or first degree (class A) assault regardless of the victim. RCW 9A.36.031, 9A.36.041; RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Assaulting or battering a law-enforcement officer (or a government representative, health care worker, utility worker, emergency service worker or correctional employee) acting in an official capacity is a felony when the person knows or has reason to know the victim is acting in that capacity. Assault is 1 to 3 years and/or a fine up to $200; battery is 1 to 3 years and/or up to $500 (2 to 5 years for a second offense, 5 to 10 years for a third); unlawful assault causing bodily injury with intent to maim or kill is 2 to 5 years; malicious assault is 3 to 15 years. By comparison, simple assault on anyone else is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $100) and simple battery is a misdemeanor (up to 12 months and/or $500). W. Va. Code §§ 61-2-10b(a)-(e), 61-2-9(b)-(c) |
| Wisconsin | Simple battery (intentionally causing bodily harm) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 9 months and/or $10,000). Knowingly resisting or obstructing an officer is also a Class A misdemeanor, but resisting that causes a soft tissue injury or substantial bodily harm to the officer is a Class H felony (up to 6 years and/or $10,000), and causing great bodily harm is a Class G felony (up to 10 years and/or $25,000). Battery to a current or former law enforcement officer or family member in response to official action, and battery to firefighters, health care workers and certain other public workers, are Class H felonies; battery to a public officer to influence official action is a Class I felony. Wisconsin's battery crimes were recodified in 2025 into a new battery subchapter (§§ 940.51-940.66). Wis. Stat. §§ 940.60(1), 940.62(1)(a), (2)(a), (d), (e), 946.41(1), (2r), (2t), 939.50(3), 939.51(3)(a) |
| Wyoming | Intentionally and knowingly causing or trying to cause bodily injury to a peace officer (including probation and parole agents) performing official duties is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison; disarming an officer is a felony (up to 5 years); and obstructing or resisting arrest is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000). By comparison, simple assault is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $750, and battery is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750). Throwing bodily fluids or other dangerous substances at corrections or detention officers is a separate crime: a misdemeanor if reckless, a felony (up to 5 years and/or $5,000) if intentional. W.S. 6-5-204(a)-(d), 6-2-501(a)-(d), 6-2-508 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.