Definitions & Introduction to Crimes Against Persons

Question 1

What is a Physical Injury?

Answer 1

An injury that impairs a person’s physical condition, or causes substantial pain.

Bruising alone, without evidence of physical impairment, is not sufficient enough to establish impairment of physical condition.

Question 2

What is a Serious Physical Injury?

Answer 2

A physical injury which:

• Creates a substantial risk of death; or
• Causes serious and protracted disfigurement; or
• Causes protracted impairment of health; or
• Causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily organ.

Question 3

What is a Dangerous Weapon?

Answer 3

Dangerous weapon means any weapon, device, instrument, material or substance which under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.

Question 4

What is a Deadly Weapon?

Answer 4

Deadly weapon means any instrument, article or substance specifically designed for and presently capable of causing death or serious physical injury.

Question 5

What is Physical Force?

Answer 5

Physical force includes, but is not limited to, the use of an electrical stun gun, tear gas or mace.

Question 6

What is Deadly Physical Force?

Answer 6

Deadly physical force means physical force that under the circumstances in which it is used is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury.