False imprisonment occurs when a person intentionally and illegally restrains another person's ability to move freely. Sec. 12.34. THIRD DEGREE FELONY PUNISHMENT.A bill before Massachusetts lawmakers proposes an examination of how the state should make amends. Many state statutes follow the federal statute. If you have been wrongfully convicted, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for wrongful incarceration. If a perpetrator is convicted of a misdemeanor, he or she can face punishments such as jail time, probation, and fines. If a perpetrator is convicted of a misdemeanor, he or she can face punishments such as jail time, probation, and fines. Our Manne Family Fellow, Diego Galeazzi, wanted to unpack the U.S. Supreme Court majority's decision. Lexis 21029 (5th Cir.). Crimes classified as misdemeanors carry a sentence of up to one year in prison but are often not taken very seriously.