What type of offense occurs when a person attempts to use physical force against another without causing injury?

The correct answer is that this scenario describes an assault. In legal terms, assault typically refers to an attempt or intention to cause physical harm to another individual, even if the attempt does not result in actual injury. It is considered a crime of intention and action, focusing on the threat or use of force rather than on the outcome of that force.

In this context, even if the person did not succeed in causing injury, the very attempt to use physical force qualifies as assault. This offense underscores the importance of the intent and the act of threatening physical harm. Understanding assault in this way helps ensure that any attempt to engage in violence, regardless of its success, is subject to legal consequences.

Looking at the other options: battery involves actual physical contact or harm being inflicted, which does not apply here since the injury did not occur. A threat generally refers to a verbal or written expression of intent to cause harm, focusing more on the communication aspect rather than the physical attempt. Harassment often entails a pattern of behavior that causes distress or alarm to someone, but it does not inherently involve a physical threat or attempt to use force. Thus, the definition of assault fits the scenario of attempting to use physical force without causing injury.