Felony false imprisonment does not require that a person physically touch, restrain, or move another person. Absent actual or threatened violence, false imprisonment is a usually a misdemeanor under California Penal Code §237.Thus, false imprisonment may be charged as a misdemeanor. There are Mitigating Factors the Court Must Consider in a False Imprisonment Conviction in San Diego. If you have been charged with false imprisonment, Chesley Lawyers identify defense strategies, and aggressively protect your rights in court if necessary. This means falsely imprisoning a hostage as a means of avoiding capture or arrest. What Constitutes False Imprisonment? The language of the code section states that: 210.5. School's do not allow people to wander the halls looking for their children. Being convicted of false imprisonment comes with serious consequences as well.