{"data":{"id":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-2701","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"18 Pa.C.S. § 2701","heading":"Simple assault.","body":"(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided under section 2702 (relating to aggravated assault), a person is guilty of assault if he:\n(1) attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another;\n(2) negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon;\n(3) attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or\n(4) conceals or attempts to conceal a hypodermic needle on his person and intentionally or knowingly penetrates a law enforcement officer or an officer or an employee of a correctional institution, county jail or prison, detention facility or mental hospital during the course of an arrest or any search of the person.\n(b) Grading.--Simple assault is a misdemeanor of the second degree unless committed:\n(1) in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, in which case it is a misdemeanor of the third degree; or\n(2) against a child under 12 years of age by a person 18 years of age or older, in which case it is a misdemeanor of the first degree.","path":["Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES","PART II DEFINITION OF SPECIFIC OFFENSES","ARTICLE B OFFENSES INVOLVING DANGER TO THE PERSON","CHAPTER 27 ASSAULT"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=18\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=27\u0026sctn=1\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-31 (Statute Update stamp, 18 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:28Z","sha256":"67bd938e6c7fdf5f6aaf2f593131c7abfa443cbfbc0dfa0bb501f4218c6927e5","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-2609","next":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-2702"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}