California Penal Code Section 242 –Battery

A battery is any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another.

Under Penal Code Section 242, defining a battery as any willful and unlawful use of force or violence on the person of another, the word “violence” has no real significance. The least touching may constitute battery; force against the person is enough, it need not be violent or severe and need not cause bodily injury or even pain, nor leave any mark. A person need not have an intent to injure to commit a battery; he only needs to intend to commit the act. Thus, a simple battery does not necessarily show readiness to do evil or necessarily involve moral turpitude. People v. Mansfield (1988, Cal App 5th Dist) 200 Cal App 3d 82, 245 Cal Rptr 800, 1988 Cal App LEXIS 318.