Imprisonment is a legal term. It refers to the restraint of a person's liberty.
The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:
Imprisonment is no other thing than the restraint of a man's liberty, whether it be in the open field, or in the stocks, or in the cage in the streets or in a man's own house, as well as in the common gaols; and in all the places the party so restrained is said to be a prisoner so long as he hath not his liberty freely to go at all times to all places whither he will without bail or mainprise or otherwise.This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co.
See also Bird v Jones (1845) 7 QB 742, (1845) 115 ER 668, (1845) 15 LJQB 82, (1845) 9 Jur 870, (1845) 10 JP 4, (1845) 5 LT (OS) 406.
Imprisonment without lawful cause is a tort called false imprisonment.
Imprisonment is a type of sentence.
See also English criminal law#General power of Crown Court to impose a sentence of imprisonment on conviction on indictment.
Famous quotes containing the word imprisonment:
“... imprisonment itself, entailing loss of liberty, loss of citizenship, separation from family and loved ones, is punishment enough for most individuals, no matter how favorable the circumstances under which the time is passed.”
—Mary B. Harris (1874–1957)