- Legal Basis
- § 239 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to five years or a fine
- Summary
- Imprisoning or otherwise depriving another person of their personal freedom
False Imprisonment (Section 239 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against False Imprisonment Charges
False imprisonment protects the right to freedom of movement and is an offence that arises in a wide variety of life situations – from domestic conflicts and employment disputes to measures in the medical sector. The distinction between criminal deprivation of liberty and lawful restriction of movement always requires careful legal analysis. For expats in Germany, it is essential to understand that even brief restrictions of another person’s freedom of movement may constitute a criminal offence.
Statutory Text – Section 239 StGB
Paragraph 1: Whoever imprisons another person or otherwise deprives them of their personal freedom shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine.
Paragraph 2: Attempt is punishable.
Paragraph 3: A sentence of imprisonment from one to ten years shall be imposed if the offender deprives the victim of their freedom for longer than one week, or if the act or conduct during the act causes serious harm to the victim’s health.
Paragraph 4: If the offender causes the death of the victim through the act or conduct during the act, the penalty shall be imprisonment of not less than three years.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Imprisonment: Imprisonment means that the victim is prevented from moving about freely by external means – particularly locked doors, restraints, or other physical barriers. It suffices that every way out is cut off, even if the space itself is large.
Otherwise depriving of freedom: This alternative covers all other means capable of eliminating freedom of movement. These include removing mobility aids (wheelchair, walking stick), administering sedatives, threatening violence if the person leaves a location, or abducting someone to an unknown place. Withholding clothing may also suffice in individual cases.
Duration: Even a brief deprivation of liberty can fulfil the elements of the offence. No minimum duration is required. For the qualified offence under paragraph 3, the deprivation must last longer than one week.
Unlawfulness: The act must be unlawful. Justification grounds may arise from parental custody rights, the right of citizen’s arrest under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, or from medical emergencies.
Typical Methods of Commission
In practice, false imprisonment particularly arises in the following situations: locking someone in a flat or room in the context of domestic violence, physically restraining persons during arguments, unlawful fixation or confinement in care facilities, unauthorised deprivation of liberty by security personnel in shops or nightclubs, and abduction cases. Locking an employee in a workplace or blocking a car park exit can also fulfil the elements of the offence.
Sentencing Range
Simple false imprisonment under paragraph 1 carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years or a fine. Attempt is punishable. If the deprivation of liberty lasts longer than one week or causes serious harm to health, the penalty is imprisonment from one to ten years (para. 3). If the act causes the victim’s death, the minimum sentence is three years of imprisonment (para. 4).
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against false imprisonment charges frequently focuses on whether the victim was actually prevented from moving about freely or whether realistic alternatives existed. It is further examined whether justification grounds apply – such as a legitimate right of arrest, parental care, or a medical emergency. Particularly in domestic disputes, the account of what actually occurred is frequently contested. The question of intent – whether the accused deliberately and knowingly brought about the deprivation of liberty – also regularly provides points of attack for the defence. BAFTEH Strafverteidigung comprehensively analyses the facts and identifies all relevant defence approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist eine False Imprisonment?
Strafbar ist das Einsperren oder das auf andere Weise Berauben der Fortbewegungsfreiheit eines Menschen (§ 239 StGB).
Welche Strafe droht?
Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fünf Jahren oder Geldstrafe; bei langer Dauer oder schweren Folgen erhöht sich die Strafe.
Welche Verteidigungsansätze gibt es?
Geprüft werden eine Einwilligung, die Dauer, mögliche Rechtfertigungsgründe wie die vorläufige Arrest (§ 127 StPO) sowie der Vorsatz.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of False Imprisonment? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of False Imprisonment requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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