What differentiates simple battery from substantial or aggravated battery?

• A. Simple battery is a felony and substantial is a misdemeanor
• B. Simple battery is a misdemeanor and substantial is a felony
• C. Both are felonies
• D. Substantial is always a misdemeanor

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how harm and aggravating factors change the level of the offense. Simple battery covers intentional bodily contact or minor harm and is charged as a misdemeanor. When the injury is more serious or there are aggravating factors—such as substantial harm, use of a dangerous weapon, or other circumstances that intensify the offense—the charge escalates to aggravated (substantial) battery, which is a felony. In Wisconsin terms, you see simple battery as the lower, misdemeanor form, and the more serious form as a felony due to the greater harm or dangerous circumstances involved. So the distinction is about the severity of harm and the presence of aggravating elements, which is why the correct understanding is that simple battery is a misdemeanor while substantial/aggravated battery is a felony.