What defines the crime of battery?

The crime of battery is specifically defined as any intentional and forceful touching of another person without their consent. This can involve actual physical contact, which distinguishes it from other crimes like assault, where the mere threat of harm or the fear of contact is sufficient. The emphasis in this definition is on the act of touching, which does not need to cause bodily injury; rather, it must be intentional and non-consensual.

Understanding this helps clarify how it is differentiated from other actions such as threatening force without actual contact, which aligns more with assault. Planning or coaching someone to commit a crime, while potentially criminal behavior, does not meet the criteria for battery since they do not involve a direct act of force against a person. Thus, the accurate characterization of battery hinges on the unauthorized touching aspect, confirming that option B correctly captures the essence of the offense.