In 2020, there were 4,215 accounts of aggravated assault in Alaska, according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The question arises, can you get charged with assault when trying to protect yourself? In the vast landscapes of the state's laws, confrontations can...
What could increase the severity of an assault charge?
Assault is a crime when you hurt someone physically or threaten physical harm to another person. There are varying degrees of this crime. What degree of charge you face often depends on the situation's circumstances. The prosecutor will consider the individuals...
What can impact the seriousness of an assault charge?
Assault occurs when you cause physical harm to someone else. It may also involve threatening to cause harm without any actual physical contact. There are three degrees of assault in Alaska. The type of charge you face will depend on various factors. The higher or more...
What role can alcohol play in starting bar fights?
When you step into a bar, you likely just want to sit down and enjoy a drink, perhaps with some friends or just to be alone. Getting into a fight is probably not on your mind. However, sometimes an alcoholic beverage brings out angry feelings, leading to harsh words...
Consider the liabilities of a bar fight
It is unlikely a bar fight starts preemptively. Taverns and pubs are often a place to relax, have a few drinks and enjoy good company. In the event of a violent encounter, though, there are a number of complications that arise. Every punch thrown may risk an assault...
What is Alaska’s self-defense law?
It is not uncommon to hear people in Anchorage claim (in response to assault charges) that they only acted in self-defense. Such claims are often met with skepticism. However, those people who express such doubt at such assertions may themselves admit that they...
Alaska’s assault laws and potential consequences
Alaska takes assault seriously. There are different types of conduct that the law identifies as assault, and the severity of the crime determines if it is a misdemeanor or a felony. The consequences for an assault conviction can be severe, even for a misdemeanor. Laws...
Reviewing statistics on aggravated assault in Alaska
If you are facing aggravated assault charges, it is crucial to recognize that you are not alone. Across Alaska, many people have found themselves in this position and you also need to recognize the potential penalties associated with these allegations, such as time...
How does Anchorage define assault?
Assault generally means an intentional act that puts someone else in reasonable fear that he or she faces imminent bodily harm or offensive contact, whether or not that harm or contact actually occurs. Each state and municipality has its own laws setting forth...
What do you know about verbal and emotional abuse?
Recently, your partner leveled a domestic violence charge against you. You have never raised a hand against your partner, but physical violence is not the only form of domestic abuse. See what the Office on Women's Health says about emotional and verbal abuse. Learn...