The most common defense is consent. In other words, the victim voluntarily agreed to being confined.
California Penal Code 236 PC describes the crime of false imprisonment as unlawfully depriving another person of their personal liberty. Put simply, it's a crime to detain, restrain, or confine someone without their consent and not allow them to leave when they want.
False Imprisonment Penalties Jail time (up to one year in jail for a misdemeanor conviction, three years for a felony conviction, and eight years for a felony conviction involving a hostage) Fines ranging between $1,000 and $10,000 or more. Probation sentences of at least 12 months or more.
False Imprisonment Defenses. Consent, justification, and self-defense or defense of others are all defenses to hostage false imprisonment.
To prove a false imprisonment claim as a tort in a civil lawsuit, the following elements must be present: There was a willful detention; The detention was without consent; and. The detention was unlawful.
To prove a prima facie case of false imprisonment, the following elements need demonstration: An act that completely confines a plaintiff within fixed boundaries. An intention to confine. Defendant is responsible for or the cause of the confinement.
In general, to make out a false imprisonment claim, you'll need to show these four common elements: the intentional restraint of another person in a confined area. the restrained person doesn't consent to the restraint. the restrained person is aware of the restraint, and. the restraint is without legal justification.