What offense is committed when someone knowingly restrains another unlawfully, exposing them to risk of serious bodily injury?

The offense committed when someone knowingly restrains another unlawfully, exposing them to the risk of serious bodily injury, is unlawful restraint. This crime involves the intentional and unlawful restriction of a person's freedom of movement, which can include physical confinement or coercing someone to stay in a certain place against their will.

Unlawful restraint focuses on the actual containment or restriction of an individual's movements, regardless of the intent to hold them for a longer period or the purpose behind the restraint. If the act of restraining someone also intentionally puts them at risk of serious bodily injury, it enhances the gravity of the situation and highlights the malicious nature of the action.

In contrast, other options describe related but distinct concepts. Kidnapping generally involves unlawfully taking or carrying away a person with the intent to deprive them of their liberty or to hold them for ransom or other unlawful purposes. False imprisonment also involves the unlawful confinement of a person but typically does not necessarily imply a risk of serious bodily injury. Lastly, assault refers to causing apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact but does not entail actual physical restraint. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in recognizing the nuances involved in various offenses against personal liberty and safety.