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A false imprisonment in Madison, Wisconsin, is a Class H felony that could carry a penalty of up to 6 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. False imprisonment is distinct from kidnapping, which involves the transportation of a victim and is a Class C felony.
Penalties for a False Imprisonment Conviction
Upon conviction of false imprisonment in Wisconsin, a Class H felony comes with a maximum potential of 6 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Many times these charges are accompanied by a domestic violence enhancer, which will add extra penalties to the already serious penalties associated with a conviction. A felony conviction will already come with a loss of civil rights such as the right to vote, and a lifetime ban on the ability to possess firearms.
False imprisonment
You shall not pass! Unless you’re a wizard, a conviction for false imprisonment is a felony regardless of your criminal history.
The law says that anyone “who intentionally confines or restrains another without the person's consent and with the knowledge that he or she has no lawful authority to do so” is guilty of false imprisonment. False imprisonment is classified as a Class H felony.
How Long Will a False Imprisonment Conviction Remain on My Record?
A conviction of false imprisonment will have lifelong impacts on an individual’s life. Unless the court grants expungement at the time of sentencing, it is likely the criminal conviction will remain on your record for your entire life. While individuals can petition for a Governor’s pardon, those are rarely granted. Do not risk a lifetime of consequences by tackling a criminal case on your own.
How to Beat a False Imprisonment Charge
Contact a Madison criminal defense attorney to look into the legal issues that surround false imprisonment and create the most successful defense possible. Grieve Law attorneys will look deep into your case and be sure to pull out every piece of important information. The State must prove that you intentionally confined or restrained another person knowing that you did not have the authority to do so. If the State cannot prove any one of those elements, then you cannot be convicted of false imprisonment.
Our experienced attorneys will review your case to determine what options you have to challenge the evidence the State intends to use against you. Grieve Law in Madison (located just off the Beltline) serves clients from Fitchburg, Stoughton, Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie and throughout Dane County.
