How to Protect Yourself from Assault
Defining Assault
Assault is defined in the Legal Dictionary as, “Assault is an act that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent, harmful, or offensive contact. The act consists of a threat of harm accompanied by an apparent, present ability to carry out the threat.” An essential element when analyzing an assault case is the presence or absence of intent, meaning the intention of the person committing the act to cause harm to the victim. Assault is an offense in Criminal Law and under Common law it is a misdemeanor or a felony if there is criminal intent, meaning an intent to kill, rob, rap, or the person carried a weapon when making the attack.
Taking Preventative Measures Against Assault
Now that you are aware of the facts and have established a proper definition of assault let’s talk about preventative measures you can take to ensure you are properly equipped if an assault situation arises. During the summer crime rates increase, it is important to know crime activity in your town and the site spotcrime.com that will inform you of recent crime in your desired geographical location with current updates from police incident reports and other news sources. Before heading out check the map to see areas where crime has occurred and steer clear of those locations to prevent being a victim of crime.
Preparing For An Attack
It is also important that you are physically and mentally prepared for an attack, for it likely won’t be anticipated and you will need to react quickly.
- The first and foremost important self-defense tactic is to avoid being in areas conducive to crime and always be aware of your surroundings.
- If you find yourself uneasy or sensing something is not right, trust your intuition and change your route.
- Do not bring attention to yourself, avoid wearing flashy clothing and jewelry that will make you look like an easy target. Walk with purpose and good posture to ward off attackers.
- If you feel suspicious of a stranger, make and maintain eye contact this can ward off an aggressor before contact is made. Stay strong and be confident.
- If contact is made use your resources around you such as broken bottles, rocks, belt, pepper spray, or anything you think would make a good weapon.
Hope you found these tips helpful and if you ever find you or a loved one needs legal counseling call Jensen Legal or visit the website for more information.
Sources referenced:
http://www.safetyforwomen.com/preparing.htm
http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-self-defense-tips-average-woman-1064.html
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