Legal Definitions - confinement

Confinement refers to the act of restricting a person's freedom of movement, or the state of being held in a specific place against their will or without their consent. It signifies a deprivation of liberty, whether by physical force, legal authority, or other means that prevent an individual from leaving a designated area.

• Example 1: House Arrest
  A judge orders a defendant, awaiting trial for a non-violent offense, to remain at their residence at all times, monitored by an electronic ankle bracelet, instead of being held in jail.

  This illustrates confinement because the defendant's movement is severely restricted to their home, preventing them from freely leaving, even though they are not in a traditional prison cell. The electronic monitoring ensures their compliance with this restriction of liberty.

• Example 2: Involuntary Psychiatric Hold
  A person experiencing a severe mental health crisis is deemed a danger to themselves or others by medical professionals and is involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital for a short period for evaluation and treatment.

  This demonstrates confinement because the individual is legally prevented from leaving the hospital facility, even if they wish to, due to concerns for their safety or the safety of others. Their freedom of movement is restricted by medical and legal authority.

• Example 3: Immigration Detention
  An individual seeking asylum at a country's border is placed in a government-run detention center while their application is processed, and they are not permitted to leave the facility until a decision is made or they are granted temporary release.

  This is an example of confinement because the asylum seeker's liberty is restricted to the detention center. They are held in a specific location by government authority, unable to move freely or leave the premises, pending the outcome of their legal process.