Understanding Battery Charges in Georgia: Key Differences Between Simple and Aggravated Battery

May 23, 2025

Battery Charges in Georgia: What You Need to Know

Facing a battery charge in Georgia can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure of what the charge actually means. Georgia law distinguishes between simple battery and aggravated battery, and the penalties can vary widely depending on the circumstances.



At The Law Office of Steven N. Jones, LLC, we help Atlanta residents understand their legal rights and build a defense tailored to the seriousness of the charge they face.


What Is Simple Battery in Georgia?


Under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-23, simple battery occurs when someone:


  • Intentionally makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature, or
  • Intentionally causes physical harm to another person


Examples of simple battery include:


  • Shoving someone during an argument
  • Slapping someone across the face
  • Hitting someone and causing minor bruising


Penalties for simple battery may include:


  • Up to 12 months in jail
  • Fines up to $1,000
  • Probation, community service, or anger management classes


Although considered a misdemeanor, a conviction can still carry lasting personal and professional consequences.


What Is Aggravated Battery in Georgia?


Aggravated battery, defined under O.C.G.A. § 16-5-24, involves more serious bodily injury. A person commits aggravated battery when they:


  • Maliciously cause bodily harm by depriving someone of a limb or seriously disfiguring a body part


Examples include:


  • Breaking someone’s bones in a fight
  • Using a weapon to cause lasting injury
  • Causing permanent disfigurement


Penalties for aggravated battery are much more severe:


  • It is a felony
  • Punishable by 1 to 20 years in prison
  • Enhanced penalties if the victim is a child, elderly, or law enforcement officer


Why Legal Representation Matters


If you’ve been charged with battery—whether simple or aggravated—your freedom, future, and record are on the line. Prosecutors in Georgia take violent offenses seriously, and having the right legal representation can significantly affect the outcome of your case.


At The Law Office of Steven N. Jones, LLC, we provide strategic defense services to individuals throughout Atlanta. We thoroughly investigate the facts, challenge the prosecution’s evidence, and fight for the best possible resolution.

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