Confines criminal instead (7)
I believe the answer is:
detains
'confines' is the definition.
('detain' can be a synonym of 'confine')
'criminal instead' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'instead' anagrammed gives 'DETAINS'.
(Other definitions for detains that I've seen before include "Delays" , "Holds back" , "Stops" .)