Example and Hypothetical Scenario. The most important element of a false imprisonment claim is detention.To prove detention the plaintiff needs to show two things. The law generally requires that the guilty plea be vacated in order to bring forth state and federal challenges to the validity of an arrest:. Experienced wrongful arrest and imprisonment attorneys. False imprisonment occurs when a person intentionally and illegally restrains another person's ability to move freely. They can only sue for wrongful imprisonment if they have been arrested and held beyond the scope of the courts. The original writers and editors of the Handbook (formerly the NLG Jailhouse Lawyers Manual), Brian. Excessive Force By a Police Officer? § 1983 and state law claims for malicious prosecution, false arrest or false imprisonment, and state constitutional violations.