Legal Term: FALSE IMPRISONMENT

Definition: torts. Any intentional detention of the person of another not authorized by law, is false imprisonment. 1 Bald. 571, 9 N. H. Rep. 491, 2 Brev. R. 157. It is any illegal imprisonment, without any process whatever, or under color of process wholly illegal, without regard to the question whether any crime has been committed, or a debt due. 1 Chit. Pr. 48, 5 Verm. 588, 3 Blackf. 46, 3 Wend. 350 5 Wend. 298, 9 John. 117, 1 A. K. Marsh. 845, Kirby, 65, Hardin 249.

2. The remedy is, in order to be restored to liberty, by writ of habeas corpus, and to recover damages for the injury, by action of trespass vi et armis. To punish the wrong done to the public, by the false imprisonment of an individual, the offender may be indicted. 4 Bl. Com. 218, 219, 2 Burr. 993. Vide Bac. Ab. Trespass, D 3 Danes Ab. Index, h. t. Vide 9 N. H. Rep. 491, 2 Brev. R. 157, Malicious Prosecution, Regular and Irregular Process.

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