What is Violence?

What is Violence?

by Sue Basko

The United States Penal Code defines violence as:

TITLE 18  PART I  CHAPTER 1  § 16

§ 16. CRIME OF VIOLENCE DEFINED

The term “crime of violence” means—

(a) an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or

(b) any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.

Let's look at this closely.  It's all about "physical force."  And it's physical force against the "person or property of another."   This is not just harm to a person, but also to property.  And it is the "use, attempted use or threatened use."

 If you wondered if using physical force against property is considered violence --  under federal law, yes, this is violence.