The main difference between the two is that false arrest requires an arrest, but, false imprisonment only requires unlawful detention. False imprisonment occurs when one person unlawfully restricts another's freedom of movement.False arrest requires an arrest, but, false imprisonment only requires unlawful detention. Black's Law Dictionary defines false imprisonment as "A restraint of a person in a bounded area without justification or consent. Fulton County Sheriff, 63 F.3d 110, 118 (2d. Cir. 1995) ("common law tort of false arrest is a species of false imprisonment. False arrest, unlawful arrest and wrongful arrest are all proper terms for that set of facts. 1984) ("If there is a false arrest claim, damages for that claim cover the time of detention up until issuance of process or arraignment, but not more. False arrest is also referred to as false imprisonment and is generally considered a misdemeanor offense.