Los Angeles Criminal Defense Firm

False Imprisonment

False Imprisonment is unlawful restraint that substantially interferes with the personal liberty (i.e. freedom of movement) of another (California Penal Code Section 236). False Imprisonment is a crime and a tort (civil wrong). In California, False Imprisonment is generally charged as a misdemeanor. A felony will be charged if the False Imprisonment is accomplished by violence, menace, fraud, or deceit.

False Imprisonment as a misdemeanor carries a fine and up to one year in county jail. Felony False Imprisonment provides for a potential state prison sentence. False Imprisonment is sometimes referred to as unlawful detention, unlawful restraint, unlawful imprisonment, false arrest, or criminal restraint. See also and compare to False Arrest.