False imprisonment happens when a person keeps another person from leaving a vehicle, house, building, or some other area. Under New York Penal Law § 135.05, you could be prosecuted for unlawful imprisonment in the second degree if you unlawfully restrain another person.A false arrest is the unreasonable seizure of someone's personality. A seizure is considered unreasonable when there is a lack of probable cause to support it. Many actions are family offenses, such as when a person verbally, physically, emotionally, or sexually abuses you, or threatens to hurt you. Unfortunately, false domestic violence accusations result in many wrongful arrests. The legal definition of false imprisonment isn't substantially different from kidnapping, but it is a far less serious crime. Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree is a New York criminal offense imposing harsh penalties on anyone who restrains another person. If you're picturing someone locking someone in the basement into order to play prison - that's rare. False imprisonment is defined as the intentional restraint of an individual against his or her will without a lawful justification to do so.