Words like “kidnapping” or “false imprisonment” immediately conjure images of a person being bound and blindfolded, unable to escape a cagey stranger’s clutches. But more often, false imprisonment charges in Florida stem from incidents alleged domestic violence. Rather than tying someone up, false imprisonment looks more like forcing someone to stop and just listen to your side of the argument – something that can seem like a reasonable action, especially in the heat of a spirited disagreement. But it’s a felony, and should be taken seriously.
False imprisonment, as defined in F.S. 787.02, is when someone without the legal authority to do so restrains another person against their will. It’s similar to kidnapping, except the latter is more serious and involves moving another person against their will from one place to another while they are confined. Kidnapping also typically involves the intent to to commit another serious offense (i.e., extortion, sexual assault, battery, etc.).
False imprisonment is a third-degree felony, which carries penalties of a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and $5,000 in fines. It may also result in a permanent injunction (aka restraining order), which can have lasting implications for future employment opportunities, firearm rights, freedom of travel, etc. Kidnapping, meanwhile, is typically a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. It can even be a life felony if carried out in conjunction with other serious offenses.
Penalties can be more significant for either charge if there are aggravating factors – particularly if it was carried out in conjunction with another serious felony, such as robbery, burglary, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking, or exploitation of a minor. Prior convictions can also exacerbate the seriousness of a false imprisonment charge.
What Do Prosecutors Have to Prove in a Florida False Imprisonment Case?
As our Fort Lauderdale defense lawyers can explain, the elements of a false imprisonment charge are:
- Intentional imprisonment. That is, the defendant intentionally limited or restricted the other person’s freedom – confining, abducting, imprisoning, or restraining them. It doesn’t necessarily require physical restraint. Coercion, threats of violence, and tricking someone can satisfy this requirement as well.
- Lack of consent. The person who is being held does not consent to it. It’s worth noting that children, individuals with cognitive disabilities or impairments, or those who are intoxicated are not able to consent.
- No legal justification. If you’re a police officer or nurse, you may have the authority and legal justification to restrain someone against their will under certain circumstances. Same with shop owners or security personnel, but only under certain circumstances. Parents also may have legal justification for restraining minor children.
Examples of False Imprisonment in Domestic Violence Cases
False imprisonment charges sometimes come as a surprise do defendants, particularly if no one was hurt or physically restrained at all.
Some examples of scenarios of false imprisonment in domestic situations:
- Grabbing another person and/or blocking an exit so that they cannot leave.
- Holding something the other person values without their consent so that they can’t leave (i.e., wallet, keys, pet, child, etc.).
- Drugging someone without their consent to restrict their movements.
- Locking the car doors during an argument so that a passenger is unable to get out when they want to.
- Threatening to hurt someone if they leave a certain location.
- Locking someone in a room against their will.
Defenses to Florida False Imprisonment Charges
There are certain defenses to false imprisonment that can be made depending on the relationships between the parties. For example, merchants accused of false imprisonment may detain someone for a reasonable amount of time on suspicion of retail theft. They can only do so long enough to make a reasonable identification, inquire as to whether the person has possession of unpurchased merchandise, and inform a police officer. Similarly, parents and caregivers can defend against claims of false imprisonment where children under 17 are concerned where they are responsible for assuming control of the child’s welfare.
But in the context of domestic violence, some common defenses to false imprisonment charges in Florida:
- Voluntary consent to confinement. False imprisonment requires establishing that the confinement was against the alleged victim’s will. If a person voluntarily consents to confinement, it nullifies the charge of false imprisonment.
- Alleged victim was not actually confined, detained, or restrained. This is an argument asserting that the victim was factually mistaken about not being able to leave a place. An example might be them assuming they were locked in a room when in fact they were not.
- No reasonable belief in threat. If the charge involves allegations that the defendant committed false imprisonment using threats of violence, it must be proven that the alleged victim reasonably believed the defendant was capable of carrying out that threat and intended to do so. If there is no basis for this being a reasonable belief, the defendant can’t be convicted of false imprisonment.
- Good faith self defense or defense of others. Let’s say you take your girlfriend’s car keys because she’s drunk and trying to drive. You may be detaining without her consent, but she is a serious threat to herself and others if she gets behind the wheel of a car in her current state. One can assert good faith self defense or defense of others in challenging a false imprisonment charge.
- Lack of restraint. If the alleged victim has a clear path to exit and chooses not to use it, it’s going to be tough for prosecutors to prove that the person was truly being restrained.
If you’re accused of false imprisonment in a domestic violence case, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to help you navigate the criminal justice process. We have an extensive track record of successfully helping criminal defendants avoid felony convictions and the serious consequences associated with these charges.
Call Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney Richard Ansara at (954) 761-4011. Serving Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
Additional Resources:
F.S. 787.02, Florida False Imprisonment
More Blog Entries:
5 Possible Defenses to Fort Lauderdale Domestic Violence Charges, Nov. 17, 2022, Broward Domestic Violence Defense Attorney Blog