Getting the Police Involved

What is an assault charge?

A charge is a criminal accusation against someone. The phrase "laying charges" comes from a legal process, which is called laying an information. In order for a criminal matter to begin, an information has to be laid by someone who believes that an offence has been committed. Thus an "assault charge" involves laying an information against someone who you believe has committed an assault.

Police Involvement - Continued: What will the police do? Will the police always lay assault charges? Can you withdraw charges after they are laid? What type of sentence will the offender get?

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