How is false imprisonment without violence, menace, or fraud classified?

False imprisonment without violence, menace, or fraud is classified as a misdemeanor primarily because it involves unlawful restraint of an individual's freedom of movement, but does not include elements that would elevate it to a felony charge, such as the use of force or intimidation. Misdemeanors are typically considered less severe offenses compared to felonies and are punishable by fines or shorter jail sentences rather than longer prison terms.

In this context, the absence of violence, menace, or fraud indicates that while the act of false imprisonment is unlawful and results in harm to the individual’s liberty, it does not meet the higher threshold that would elevate the seriousness of the offense. This classification allows for appropriate legal consequences that reflect the nature of the act without categorizing it as a more severe crime.