False imprisonment occurs when someone holds another person against that person's will. Learn about this criminal offense here.A person commits false imprisonment when they engage in the act of restraint on another person which confines that person in a restricted area. The federal district court in Idaho issued two longawaited decisions calling the FBI to account for Mr. alKidd's unlawful arrest. In order for victims to prove they were falsely imprisoned, they must demonstrate that the other party intended to or actually restricted their movements. I'd wake up in a panic. (Jason). False imprisonment can be both a crime and a "tort," meaning a wrongful civil (non-criminal) act that causes harm. The total time these exonerated people spent in prison adds up to 31,900 years. Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree is a New York crime that prohibits individuals from restraining another person. "Our damning findings must serve as a wakeup call to the international community: this is genocide.