False imprisonment is the illegal restraint of a person. False imprisonment only comes into it if you were detained unlawfully, which again you need more than the fact that you were found not guilty.Court concluded as a matter of law that officer had probable cause to arrest plaintiff). 3. False imprisonment is an act punishable under criminal law as well as under tort law. Under tort law, it is classified as an intentional tort. They can only sue for wrongful imprisonment if they have been arrested and held beyond the scope of the courts. " Crawford, 372 F.3d at 1077 (Kleinfeld, J., concurring). False imprisonment is the illegal restraint of a person. Complete defense to an action for false arrest, whether that action is brought under state law or under § 1983. In NC, false imprisonment is the unlawful restrain or detainment of an individual without their consent.