C. FALSE IMPRISONMENT
1240. Felony False Imprisonment (
Pen. Code, §§ 236, 237)
The defendant is charged [in Count ] with false imprisonment by
violence or menace [in violation of Penal Code section 237(a)].
To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
prove that:
1. The defendant intentionally [and unlawfully] (restrained[,]/ [or]
confined[,]/ [or] detained) someone [or caused that person to be
(restrained[,]/ [or] confined[,]/ [or] detained)] by violence or
menace;
AND
2. The defendant made the other person stay or go somewhere
against that person’s will.
Violence means using physical force that is greater than the force
reasonably necessary to restrain someone.
Menace means a verbal or physical threat of harm[, including use of a
deadly weapon]. The threat of harm may be express or implied.
[An act is done against a person’s will if that person does not consent to
the act. In order to consent, a person must act freely and voluntarily
and know the nature of the act.]
[False imprisonment does not require that the person restrained be
confined in jail or prison.]
New January 2006
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court has a sua sponte duty to give an instruction defining the elements of the
crime. (People v. Haney (1977) 75 Cal.App.3d 308, 312–313 [142 Cal.Rptr. 186]
[failure to instruct on elements of violence, menace, fraud, or deceit necessary to
establish felony false imprisonment requires reversal].)
Give the bracketed words “and unlawfully” in element 1 on request if there is
evidence that the defendant acted lawfully. The court will need to further define for
the jury when a restraint, detention, or confinement is legal.
Give the bracketed definition of “against a person’s will” on request.
Give the final paragraph on request to inform jurors that false “imprisonment” is
CALCRIM No. 1240. Felony False Imprisonment :: California Criminal Jury Instructions (CALCRIM) (2017) :: Justia