What is the offense for intentionally or knowingly restraining another person?

The offense for intentionally or knowingly restraining another person is classified as unlawful restraint. This refers to the act of physically holding someone against their will, where the perpetrator does not have legal authority to restrict the individual's freedom of movement. Unlawful restraint can take many forms, such as holding someone in a confined space or preventing them from leaving a location, and it demonstrates a clear violation of another person's autonomy.

Understanding this definition is crucial because unlawful restraint can be differentiated from other offenses that may involve physical harm or greater levels of coercion. For instance, assault typically involves intentional infliction of harm or threat of harm, while aggravated assault involves elements such as the use of a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily injury. Kidnapping, on the other hand, involves the unlawful taking or confinement of a person with the intent to hold them against their will, often with additional elements such as the intent to terrorize or facilitate a crime.

Therefore, the specific definition of unlawful restraint focuses solely on the act of restriction without necessarily escalating to the higher degrees of violence or intent associated with assault or kidnapping.