Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101 (2026)
Assault
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) A person commits assault who:
- (1) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another;
- (2) Intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury; or
- (3) Intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another and a reasonable person would regard the contact as extremely offensive or provocative.
- (b)
- (1) Assault under:
- (A) Subdivision (a)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by incarceration and a fine not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000);
- (B) Subdivision (a)(2) is a Class A misdemeanor; and
- (C) Subdivision (a)(3) is a Class B misdemeanor.
- (2) Any conduct by an inmate against a correctional officer, guard, jailer, or other full-time employee of a penal institution, local jail, or workhouse, that would constitute an assault under subdivision (a)(1) shall be reported by the managing authority of the institution to the appropriate district attorney general for prosecution.
- (3) In addition to any other punishment that may be imposed for a violation of this section, if the relationship between the defendant and the victim of the assault is such that the victim is a domestic abuse victim as defined in § 36-3-601, and if, as determined by the court, the defendant possesses the ability to pay a fine in an amount not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200), then the court shall impose a fine at the level of the defendant's ability to pay, but no less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not in excess of two hundred dollars ($200). The additional fine shall be paid to the clerk of the court imposing sentence, who shall transfer it to the state treasurer, who shall credit the fine to the general fund. All fines so credited to the general fund shall be subject to appropriation by the general assembly for the exclusive purpose of funding family violence shelters and shelter services. Such appropriation shall be in addition to any amount appropriated pursuant to § 67-4-411.
- (1) Assault under:
- (c) For purposes of this section and § 39-13-102, "health care provider" means a person who is licensed, certified or otherwise authorized or permitted by the laws of this state to administer health care in the ordinary course of business in the practicing of a profession.
Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 756, s 1, eff. 7/1/2020.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 925, s 1, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052, s 1, eff. 4/28/2016.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 325, s 1, eff. 7/1/2013.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 1030, § 11; 2002, ch. 649, § 1; 2009 , ch. 412, § 1; 2010 , ch. 981, § 2.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 825
cases (93 in the last 5 years), 1990–2026 · leading case: State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d 521 (Tenn. 2001).
State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d 521 (Tenn. 2001). “In contrast, the simple assault statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101 (a) (1997), provides that a person who intentionally causes “physical contact” that is “extremely offensive or provocative” commits a Class B misdemeanor.”
State v. Cleveland, 959 S.W.2d 548 (Tenn. 1997). “, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-101 through -107 (1991) ("assaultive offenses").”
State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771 (Tenn. 2004). “A person commits reckless aggravated assault when he or she “[rjecklessly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101(a)(1), and: (A) [clauses serious bodily injury to another; or (B) [u]ses or displays a deadly weapon.”
Hughes v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 340 S.W.3d 352 (Tenn. 2011). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a) (2010). In State v.”
State v. Imfeld, 70 S.W.3d 698 (Tenn. 2002). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101 and - 102(a)(2)(B) (1997 & Supp.”
State v. Sims, 45 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2001). “§ 39-13-102, which states in pertinent part: (a) A person commits aggravated assault who: (1) Intentionally or knowingly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101 and: .... (B) Uses or displays a deadly weapon.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Smith, 492 S.W.3d 224 (Tenn. 2016). “Domestic assault, as defined by Tennessee statute, is an assault, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-101, committed against a domestic abuse victim.”
State v. Alvarado, 961 S.W.2d 136 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101 (a). Aggravated rape is the unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim accompanied by certain listed circumstances.”
State v. McKnight, 900 S.W.2d 36 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). “§ 39-12-101, Criminal Attempt, and Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101, Assault.”
State v. Hammonds, 30 S.W.3d 294 (Tenn. 2000). “2 The second element of this offense, commission of an assault as defined in Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101, may be established by proof that a person: (1) Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; (2) Intentionally or knowingly causes another to…”
State v. Tate, 912 S.W.2d 785 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). “As can be seen, whether the elements of this offense have been sufficiently alleged hinges on the definition of the terms “assault” and “deadly weapon.”
State v. Moore, 77 S.W.3d 132 (Tenn. 2002). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-102 (1991 Repl.). 3 .”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(1) — 2 cases
State v. McKnight, 900 S.W.2d 36 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). “§ 39-12-101, Criminal Attempt, and Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101, Assault.”
State of Tennessee v. Steven Michael Odom (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a) — 47 cases
State v. Imfeld, 70 S.W.3d 698 (Tenn. 2002). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101 and - 102(a)(2)(B) (1997 & Supp.”
Hughes v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 340 S.W.3d 352 (Tenn. 2011). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a) (2010). In State v.”
State v. Winfield, 23 S.W.3d 279 (Tenn. 2000).
State of Tennessee v. Michael Smith, 492 S.W.3d 224 (Tenn. 2016). “Domestic assault, as defined by Tennessee statute, is an assault, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-101, committed against a domestic abuse victim.”
State v. McKnight, 900 S.W.2d 36 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). “§ 39-12-101, Criminal Attempt, and Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101, Assault.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1) — 174 cases
State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771 (Tenn. 2004). “A person commits reckless aggravated assault when he or she “[rjecklessly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101(a)(1), and: (A) [clauses serious bodily injury to another; or (B) [u]ses or displays a deadly weapon.”
State v. McKinney, 74 S.W.3d 291 (Tenn. 2002).
State v. Tate, 912 S.W.2d 785 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). “As can be seen, whether the elements of this offense have been sufficiently alleged hinges on the definition of the terms “assault” and “deadly weapon.”
State v. Rollins, 188 S.W.3d 553 (Tenn. 2006).
State v. Wilson, 924 S.W.2d 648 (Tenn. 1996).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1)(2)(3) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Brent Lemane Duncan (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1)(2010) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. William Heath (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1)(A)(iii) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Matthew Glen Howell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(1)(B)(iii) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Matthew Glen Howell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(2) — 127 cases
State v. Sims, 45 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2001). “§ 39-13-102, which states in pertinent part: (a) A person commits aggravated assault who: (1) Intentionally or knowingly commits an assault as defined in § 39-13-101 and: .... (B) Uses or displays a deadly weapon.”
Hughes v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 340 S.W.3d 352 (Tenn. 2011). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a) (2010). In State v.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Smith, 492 S.W.3d 224 (Tenn. 2016). “Domestic assault, as defined by Tennessee statute, is an assault, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-101, committed against a domestic abuse victim.”
State v. Carson, 950 S.W.2d 951 (Tenn. 1997).
State v. Koffman, 207 S.W.3d 309 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(20) — 3 cases
State of Tennessee v. James Paris Johnson (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
State of Tennessee v. Howard P. Fisher (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018).
Fisher v. Genovese, Warden (M.D. Tenn. 2020).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(2001) — 1 case
State v. Moore, 77 S.W.3d 132 (Tenn. 2002). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-102 (1991 Repl.). 3 .”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(3) — 36 cases
State v. Smiley, 38 S.W.3d 521 (Tenn. 2001). “In contrast, the simple assault statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101 (a) (1997), provides that a person who intentionally causes “physical contact” that is “extremely offensive or provocative” commits a Class B misdemeanor.”
State v. Buckmeir, 902 S.W.2d 418 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
State v. McKnight, 900 S.W.2d 36 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). “§ 39-12-101, Criminal Attempt, and Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101, Assault.”
State v. Howard, 926 S.W.2d 579 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
State v. Armstrong, 256 S.W.3d 243 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a)(l) — 11 cases
State v. Boling, 840 S.W.2d 944 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992).
State v. Kimbrough, 924 S.W.2d 888 (Tenn. 1996).
State v. Cleveland, 959 S.W.2d 548 (Tenn. 1997). “, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-101 through -107 (1991) ("assaultive offenses").”
State v. Barnes, 954 S.W.2d 760 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).
State v. Wilson, 924 S.W.2d 648 (Tenn. 1996).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(b) — 4 cases
Anderson (M.D. Tenn. 2025).
State of Tennessee v. Mark Allen Haskett (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002).
State v. Clayton Turner (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
State v. Smiley (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(b)(1) — 7 cases
Kenneth Hayes v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017).
State of Tennessee v. Charles W. McCaleb (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008).
Marvin Rainer v. David G. Mills, Warden (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
State of Tennessee v. Guy L. Hines (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
State of Tennessee v. Sedrick Darnell Cummings (Tenn. Crim. App. 2024).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(b)(1)(C) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Roger Dean Guin (Tenn. Crim. App. 2023).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-101(b)(l) — 1 case
Hughes v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 340 S.W.3d 352 (Tenn. 2011). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-101(a) (2010). In State v.”
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