Fort Worth False Imprisonment Attorneys
False imprisonment is regarded as the unlawful detention of another individual against their will. It is often accompanied by the threat of bodily injury, unreasonable duress on the victim, or is enforced with physical barriers. While one of the more common cases are initiated by a false arrest, any type of action that restricts another person’s freedom of movement—such as locking someone in a car or room—can be considered false imprisonment. The unlawful detention can be tried as a crime or intentional tort, the difference being that a crime carries imprisonment as a penalty, while an intentional tort is a civil offense that results in monetary damages. In some cases, it is possible for false imprisonment to be tried as both.
Being imprisoned without your consent can be an incredibly traumatic experience. Not only is it possible that you suffered physical damages while being forcibly confined to a potentially small or otherwise inhospitable space, but the additional psychological consequences of such a violation can be very damaging.
At The Benton Law Firm, our Fort Worth false imprisonment attorneys believe that those who maliciously infringe on the personal liberty of others deserve to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.
Penalties for False Imprisonment
To be considered false imprisonment, the captivity must have included the unlawful restraint of another against their will and without legal justification. Considering this, a person that is held against their consent by law enforcement because they were under suspicion of committing a crime would not have been falsely imprisoned. Otherwise, the penalties for false imprisonment can include:
- Misdemeanor: jail time for up to one year; a maximum fine of $1,000; probation
- Felony: jail time for up to twenty years; a fine of $10,000 or more; probation
Felony charges for false imprisonment may be increased if the threat of violence was used or the imprisonment included the detention of a child. If the imprisonment occurred across a distance from which you were transported against your will, the crime would be elevated to a kidnapping charge.
Contact a False Imprisonment Lawyer in Fort Worth
At The Benton Law Firm, our legal team has the requisite knowledge to present an aggressive case against the party that imprisoned you against your will. If you have been a victim of false imprisonment, don’t hesitate to contact our Fort Worth offices at (817) 935-8000 for support and guidance in your case or visit our Fort Worth page or FAQ page to learn more about our personal injury practice ares.
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