Space Law

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Administration
Global Rules Rules - Main Silicon Policy Antagonist Policy Space Law Standard Operating Procedures Staff Policy Policy Configuration

Some reminders

  • Security is expected to make a best faith effort to understand Standard Operating Procedures as relevant to them. Expectations on brigging procedures, use of lethal force, arrest procedures and rules of engagement, and similar are contained within.
  • Undetainable threats, per SoP, may be shoot to kill/neutralize with means necessary.
    • Changelings in specific may be assumed to escape confinement.
    • As a reminder, if someone is either seen teleporting and is resisting arrest, or teleports out from confinement/arrest to escape, they count under this. Same if they are unstunnable, almost unstunnable, or would put officers in extreme danger to engage nonlethally.
  • Use lawyers when you have time. They’re there for a reason.
  • For minor, nuisence-based crimes like Harassment, Disturbing the Peace, etc, be reasonable. If you go out of your way to be a dick, expect a quick jobban.

Interpreting the Law

  • When choosing between different infractions of differing severities for the same crime, always choose the most severe one (e.g. While someone who has committed murder has technically also committed assault, you’d charge them with murder instead of murder + assault)
    • Similar crimes that only differ in severity but are the same idea will generally have the same sub-code, with only the category code being different (e.g. 101 vs 201 vs 301 vs 401)
    • Use good faith in charging for crimes - if uncertain of a higher or lower severity, err on the side of caution rather than chase a long/severe sentence.
  • Take intent and malice into account when sentencing. Many of these laws do not always need to be enforced to the letter, and variance is okay. If someone is apologetic, they should probably be treated less severely than someone who has no remorse, etc etc.
  • Use common sense.
  • In cases where a credit fine is offered, security should opt for that over brigging unless there is a reason not to (see: repeat offenses, etc).
  • The Head of Security and Captain have ultimate authority over law interpretations, unless it is clear that they themselves are intending to trample upon these laws without justifiable reasoning. While neither of them are entirely above the law, it is expected that their authority is respected up until it is no longer reasonable to.
    • See Mutiny clause in main rules.
    • This applies to the warden and regular officers if those people are not present, or if they allow it. See below.
  • Do not jump to the maximum sentence or beyond without good reason, like someone being clearly obnoxious/malicious/refusing to stop.
  • Security is allowed and encouraged to find alternative punishments where reasonable. Not every infraction requires an arrest. Things like making a vandal clean up what they did, having someone return stolen items, etc. That said, they should not indefinitely ignore crimes and the people committing them - remember your job.
  • If you are using the maximum sentence as a guideline, if a time is specified, that overrides the recommended sentencing time unless otherwise stated. Anything else is assumed to be added.
    • e.g. recommended 1-5 minutes, maximum for severe cases demotion - this means you can brig them for 1-5 minutes and/or demote them if following maximum.
  • For things like assault/theft, each person assaulted/each area stolen from is one instance of the crime, respectively.
    • Stealing 3 things from a room/department is still one count of theft. Hitting a person 3 times doesn’t give you 3 charges of assault.
  • If a fine is provided, the fine replaces any brig sentence, if applicable. You cannot demand to pay a fine to not have security take something stolen from you or to ignore contraband. Unless they’re corrupt, ofcourse.
  • Modifiers - Repeat Offenses - If someone is clearly continuing to do something that got them arrested and is not stopping, security may escalate to means necessary to stop them, including permabrigging until they agree to compromise.
  • Permabrig prisoners should be moved to the transfer/escape shuttle for detainment at Central Command if possible.
  • Demotion should generally be cleared with their head of staff first, unless they will clearly be a threat in their current department.
    • Their head of staff (and in cases of 300’s, security) are free to demote them at will regardless if it is determined they will be dangerous or highly counterproductive to keep in their current department.

Martial Law

Entities possessing a threat large enough that law may not be reasonably enforced are considered dangerous to the crew and station as a whole, and are to be neutralized with any means necessary. - Blobs, swarmers, out of control self-replicating technology - Xenomorphs, zombies, dangerous biological infections - Nuclear operatives, hostile mercenaries and strike forces - Wizards, and generally insane maniacs rampaging with magical abilities (shaft miners sometimes fall into this) - Entities purely on the station to kill (slaughter demons, etc)

Laws

  • Handy chart of severities and escalation for ease of use.
1xx 2xx 3xx
x01 Resisting Arrest Sparking a Manhunt Escape from Permanent Confinement
x02 Trespassing Major Trespass Infiltration
x03 Vandalism Sabotage Grand Sabotage/Terrorism
x04 Minor Assault/Battery Major Assault Attempted/Murder
x05 Negligence Major Negligence Manslaughter
x06 Insubordination Failure to Execute Order w/ Serious Consequences Mutiny
x07 Disturbing the Peace Inciting a Riot Rioting
x08 Petty Theft Theft Grand Theft
x09 Minor Contraband Contraband Major Contraband
x10 Obstruction of Duty Illegal Blocking of Areas
x11 Indecent Exposure Sexual Assault
x12 Harassment
x13 Operating Under the Influence Brainwashing
x14 Excessive Force/Illegal Detainment Exceeding Official Powers Wrongful Execution
x15 Kidnapping

100’s

Code Crime Description Suggested Sentence Maximum Sentence Fine (If Applicable) Notes
101 Resisting Arrest.png Resisting Arrest To not cooperate with an officer who attempts a proper arrest. 1-5 minutes N/A 25-100 credits Insults, talking back, saying no, etc, is not resisting. Trying to run/dodge handcuffs (assuming you had reason to cuff them in the first place) or screaming bloody murder over the radio is.
102 Trespassing.png Trespassing To be in an area which a person does not have legitimate access to, without permission from those who do have access. 1-5 minutes N/A 25-75 credits This is mostly applicable if the person refuses to leave, or makes a problem of themselves on purpose.
103 Vandalism.png Vandalism To deliberately damage or deface the station. Damaging simpler robots counts towards this. 2-5 minutes Demotion 25-75 credits Destruction of cyborgs counts under sabotage.
104 Battery.png Minor Assault/Battery To cause injury to another employee. Brandishing a weapon with intent to harm another. Touching people when asked to stop, persistently. 3 minutes, confiscation of any tools used Demotion, 5-7 minutes N/A If any reasonably dangerous weapon is used, this is upgraded. This is for small fistfights, etc.
105 Negligence.png Negligence To engage in negligent behavior leading to minor injury or damage, without deliberate intent. Ignoring one’s job while needed. Warning Demotion, 1-5 minutes 75 credits Minor damage, easily fixable, failing to place wet floor signs which slip people, forgetting to do a small part of a job that tangibly and negatively impacts others. Higher charges may apply if more significant issues result from it, or if it is deliberate. Leaving lockers unlocked.
106 Insubordination.png Insubordination To ignore or disregard a superior’s valid order or directives. Warning Up to 5 minutes and/or demotion 25-100 credits If the order is stupid, or is illegal under space law, the order can be safely ignored without persecution. If the order is within your job description, you should do it or resign. If someone causes serious damage through this, see the next higher infraction.
107 Disturbing the Peace.png Disturbing the Peace Intentionally and publicly engaging in erotic acts, leaving copious amounts of garbage everywhere, causing ruckuses whereever you go. Generally benign but unsavory practices that are more annoying than dangerous, that have escalated far enough for security to intervene. Warning 1-10 minutes 25-100 credits The maximum sentence is intentionally highly varied here. Judge based on what they did - a suggested sentence for major or repeat offenses should be around five minutes.
108 Petty Theft.png Petty Theft Picking up insignificant objects from a department that you weren’t allowed to take, etc. Return of the item stolen 1-5 minutes, Demotion 25-50 credits Upgraded to Theft in certain cases - read below.
109 Minor Contraband.png Minor Contraband To be in possession of contraband that isn’t dangerous to other members of the crew. Warning, up to 5 minutes, confiscation of contraband N/A 25-100 credits See Contraband Policy
110 Obstruction of Duty.png Obstruction of Duty To negatively interfere with the duties of the crew. Warning 1-10 minutes 25-100 credits Potentially a higher level crime depending on what they did. Usually a verbal warning is enough, but feel free to brig people if they keep at it.
111 Indecent Exposure.png Indecent Exposure To be intentionally, publically, and willfully nude 1-5 minutes N/A 25-75 credits Gear harnesses are only legal on those without visible genitals. (See: Fur thick enough to cover everything + not visible on a glance.) Normal (demi-)humans do not get protection from this clause even if they do not have genitals. Wear your clothes!
112 Harassment.png Harassment To persistently insult, stalk, ridicule, or otherwise intentionally be obnoxious to another crew member. 1-5 minutes Demotion 25-100 credits Following someone around for no reason and refusing to stop, constantly barraging them over radio after an incident has passed, spreading rumors intended to bring harm, having other crew gang up on someone. Mimicing one’s identity. Do not apply this law if it is a minor case of hurt feelings - people should simply man up, if that is the case.
113 Operating under the Influence.png Operating under the Influence To operate heavy machinery, or sensitive/dangerous equipment while under the effects of drugs or alcohol. Detain until sober Demotion N/A If you’re too drunk to talk straight, you’re probably too drunk to handle weapons, pilot mechs, do surgery, etc. This can probably be alleviated in an emergency if they do their job right.
114 Excessive Force.png Excessive use of Force and/or Illegal Detainment Arresting people on false, misleading, grossly misrepresented/exaggerated charges. Detaining people with no valid reasoning. Blatant disregard for SoP rules of engagement, outside of emergencies. Warning Anywhere from 1-5 minutes to Demotion N/A Gunning down a non-violent criminal who has not resisted arrest, etc etc. Lethalling someone without authorization and on flimsy reasoning counts as wrongful execution or manslaughter depending on intent and severity.

200’s

Code Crime Description Suggested Sentence Maximum Sentence Fine (If Applicable) Notes
201 Manhunt.png Sparking a Manhunt Running from security/evading arrest in a way that makes them chase you for more than a minute or two puts you liable for this charge. Up to 1 minute per 2 minutes running from security. N/A N/A They have to qualify for resisting arrest with whatever they did for it to qualify as sparking a manhunt. Sitting in the bar refusing to come in by themselves to security quietly is not making security “manhunt” them, rather than things like maintenance chases. For this crime, suggested sentence is truly suggested - it is up to security to determine when to throw the book with this.
202 Major Trespassing.png Major Trespass Trespassing in a dangerous or highly restrictive area. 5-10 minutes N/A N/A Bridge, Toxins Lab, Atmospherics, Engine Room, Brig, etc. Intent and reasoning matters!
203 Sabotage.png Sabotage To deliberately cause damage to the station in a way that will cause harm or greatly hinder productivity. 5-10 minutes 20 minutes N/A Shocking doors. An isolated, small explosive charge. Deliberately breaching an area without reason. Anything bigger, repeated (e.g. planting X4 everywhere), or otherwise causing large amounts of carnage is considered Grand Sabotage/Terrorism.
204 Major Assault.png Major Assault Causing serious injury or assaulting another crewmember with weapons. 5 minutes, confiscate weapons 10 minutes N/A Fistfights getting out of hand, running someone down with a toolbox/extinguisher, a shot or two with a regular laser gun, etc. Did not put the victim into critical condition.
205 Major Negligence.png Major Negligence Being negligent in a way that causes serious/harm to others. 5 minutes 10 minutes, demotion N/A Overdosing someone with medicine through carelessness, depressurizing an area by leaving airlocks open, leaving dangerous equipment out which are then stolen.
206 Failure to Execute.png Failure to Execute an Order with Serious Consequences Refusing to follow a lawful order from a head of staff that results in serious damage, like death or destruction. 5 minutes 10 minutes, demotion N/A Blatantly ignoring orders to say, stabilize the supermatter, burning all the tech points on useless nodes in an emergency, etc. The maximum sentence can go way up in this case, as most of the time the person can likely be charged under sabotage as well.
207 Inciting a Riot.png Inciting a Riot Inciting violent or otherwise highly disruptive protest. 5 minutes 10 minutes, demotion N/A Telling people to greytide the brig because someone got arrested, calling for a revolution, etc.
208 Theft.png Theft Stealing significant or important/dangerous objects from a department without permission. 5 minutes 10 minutes N/A Things that are limited in availability. Dangerous objects like guns. Looting engineering of their upgraded RCDs. Breaking into the RD office for the intellicard, etc. Even if an object is replaceable, the thief can be charged with Theft instead of Petty Theft.
209 Contraband.png Contraband Possession of dangerous and illegal objects. See contraband policy. 5 minutes, confiscation of objects. N/A N/A See contraband policy.
210 Illegal Blocking.png Illegal Blocking of Areas Blocking off and obstructing areas without valid reasoning. 5 minutes 10-15 minutes N/A Walling up areas, barricading off areas, etc, with no or flimsy reasoning. What they did/why they did it matters, if they’re belligerent there may be more escalation than even the maximum sentence. If injury or death resulted from it, apply manslaughter/murder and major negligence respectively.
212 Harassment.png Harassment Repeated, constant, and obnoxious attempts to aggravate another. 5 minutes 10 minutes, stripping of any access/equipment used. Injunctions, separating the involved parties until cooperation. N/A This is not the hurt feelings law. This is for cases of repeated, nonstop targeted radio harassment, someone stalking another around to aggravate them, falsely spreading harmful rumors (“x is a hostile agent”, “x killed someone”, etc) in order to cause drama against another. This is for repeated cases, whether simply asking someone to stop does not suffice. Injunctions are a tool here (i.e. ordering someone to stay off radio or cease contact). This is one of the few cases where security is expected to continually escalate confinement times and injunctions until the behavior is stemmed. On an OOC note, security players found to be abusing this clause to police simple cases of ‘hurt feelings’ will be dealt with harshly.
214 Abuse of Power.png Exceeding Official Powers Abuse of authority, whether existant or nonexistant. 5-10 minutes Demotion N/A A head of staff trying to order around another department in an obnoxious, continual manner without a clear emergency. Illegal arrests and searches, or those done with little to no valid reasoning. Someone with access pushing the rightful employees of an area out to do it themselves, without reason. Access regulations are very loose; Just because you are allowed access to an area does not automatically mean you are the sole authority there. Also applies to heads of staff/otherwise giving out illegal or clearly unreasonable orders.

300’s

Code Crime Description Suggested Sentence Maximum Sentence Fine (If Applicable) Notes
301 Escape.png (Attempted) Escape from Permanent Confinement Breaking out or getting broken out of permabrig. N/A Transfer/Cyborgification N/A How they escaped, station chaos/security level, and if they are a repeat/violent offender should be taken into account before making the decision to transfer/borg.
302 Infiltration.png Infiltration Breaking into or otherwise illegally accessing an extremely dangerous area. 10 minutes 15 to 20 minutes, Permabrig N/A What they were breaking in to do should be taken into account. AI upload, AI core, Vault, Armory, etc comes to mind.
303 Grand Sabotage.png Grand Sabotage/Terrorism Acts that lethally endanger the majority of the crew. Plasma flooding, sabotaging station air distribution, explosives meant to take out important areas of the station/large explosives in general, killing large amounts of crew, etc. Permabrig Transfer/Cyborgification N/A If someone is killing everyone they see without being under the effects of brainwashing/similar, security can safely neutralize on the spot and ask questions later. Same with someone mass bombing, if waiting would result in more danger.
304 Murder.png Attempted/Murder Intentional attempt whether or not successful to kill another crewmember. 15-20 minutes Permabrig N/A Reasoning should be taken into account (e.g. did person keep aggravating the attacker, etc etc). If it is an accident (i.e. fight gone wrong), see manslaughter. Whether or not it was premeditated should be, too. The sentencing suggestions are highly varied, so use good faith.
305 Manslaughter.png Manslaughter Directly causing the death of another without premeditation or intent. 10 minutes Up to permabrig N/A Includes fights gone wrong (critted someone, did not mean to finish them off, etc). Permabrig is still allowed with varied sentence timing based on circumstances and why they were doing whatever they did to cause the death in the first place, as well as how risky something is. This also covers death(s) through severe incompetence, although in those cases only one manslaughter charge should be applied for everyone dying vs say, 5 manslaughter charges for screwing up 5 surgeries.
306 Mutiny.png Mutiny Attempting to illegally overthrow the station’s command structure, usually violently. 15-20 minutes Permabrig, Execution, Cyborgification N/A Removal of offending crew to permabrig/death is valid if they will continue to be threats. Given that rulewise, security is allowed to mutiny in specific cases, IC enforcement of this will obviously be varied. Try not to make your entire security team loathe you, lest you end up with the ones who prevent mutiny helping overthrow you. Remember that in cases of severe strife amongst command/towards command, contacting Central Command is a valid option. This also covers extremely violent rioting, usually when security/command are being incapacitated.
307 Rioting.png Rioting Violent, usually organized disruption to station affairs and operations. 10-15 minutes Permabrig until safe* N/A There is no maximum sentence; If someone is continually a threat, permabrig until they agree to stop. Riots in permabrig may be treated as escaping from permanent confinement. If it gets to the point of death or beyond, you can probably classify it as mutiny instead.
308 Grand Theft.png Grand Theft Theft of extremely valuable items like the Hand Teleporter, Captain’s Antique Laser, etc. 10 minutes, return of item 20 minutes N/A This is no longer an immediate permabrig offense - if they are truly a threat, they’ll probably have violated multiple other 300’s anyways, or repeat offenses clause.
309 Major Contraband.png Major Contraband Possession of highly restricted and dangerous objects. See contraband policy. 10-15 minutes, confiscation of items N/A N/A See contraband policy
311 Sexual Assault.png Sexual Assault Unwanted and forced sexual advances, including rape. Permabrig Execution N/A Adminhelp in case of OOC noncon, as well as if someone is intentionally thrusting their ERP drama into station affairs. Security is not required to be merciful to intentionally disruptive scenes where the people involved are deliberately calling for help to cause drama. At the same time, remember our rules on ERP, use good faith, do not “validhunt” when it comes to this if someone clearly wants a private scene and is not making it a public issue.
313 Brainwashing.png Brainwashing Brainwashing a crew member/mind control/etc, usually for illegal activities See notes N/A N/A Brainwashing ouside of emergencies is illegal. Sentencing depends on what the person was brainwashed to do, malice, etc - anywhere from a few minutes for someone having a fetish/sexual scene with consent from both parties, to forced deconversion for things like a revolution, cultists, etc, to permabrig for brainwashing people to commit violent crimes. Mindshields will revert most forms of non-magical/alien brainwashing. Holy water works for cult inductions. Security should, in most cases, actively revert brainwashing if known. Lethal force is permitted if removal of brainwashing is considered too dangerous at the time to attempt.
314 Wrongful Execution.png Wrongful Execution Executing/lethal force that results in death to someone without authorization as well as a valid offense. Demotion + 10 minutes Permabrig N/A This covers someone using wanton lethal force resulting in death for no reason, excuting without authorization and/or reason, etc. Severe offenses should result in a murder charge - this is the charge for flimsy, not non-existant reasoning. Security is expected to use best-faith to self-audit.
315 Kidnapping.png Kidnapping Illegally abducting and holding another captive, usually in a perilous situation. 5-10 minutes Anywhere from 20 minutes to perma N/A Taking hostages count here, and is considered to be towards the severe end of this. This covers anything from maintenance abductions, locking someone in a room (likely without a radio), holding someone hostage as leverage, throwing someone through an one way portal to a place they can’t easily return from, etc. Interrogation should include intent and reasoning for the action, and that should be taken into account for sentencing. How long the victim was trapped should also be taken into account, as well as other factors like if they had contact with other people (someone doing the “weld person in locker and drag them around” realistically can be let off with even a warning or just a few minutes, while taking someone hostage with threats of death or welding them into a room for a long period of time without a radio is towards the heavy end of the spectrum). Keep in mind the kidnapper also is being charged with any other regulations they have violated in the process.

Modifiers

Situation Description Modification
Re-Education The removal of hostile brainwashing such as conversion into a revolution or a cult. Nullification of all charges for behavior from their time inducted into said element, usually immediate release.
Self Defense The reasonable protection of oneself, one’s colleagues, and one’s workplace. Intentionally getting into or sparking fights does not count, as well as cases of gross over-escalation (killing someone for a mild strike, etc). Nullification of charges involved, usually immediate release.
Cooperation with prosecution/security. Being helpful to the security team, revealing important details during questioning, providing names of other perpetrators -25% to sentence time.
Surrender Confessing what you’ve done and taking the punishment, and surrendering to arrest. Getting arrested without putting a fuss is not surrender - you have to do this of your own accord. This somewhat counts for cases where someone has been resisting arrest and decides to come quietly, but less so. Usually -25% to sentence time. Should be taken into account for interpretation of charges and punishment in general.
Immediate threat to prisoner The singularity is eating the brig, a cell got bombed, etc. If you can’t relocate them to a safe area, non-permabrig prisoners should be released entirely.
Medical reasons Prisoners are entitled to medical attention if sick or injured. Suicide doesn’t count. Medical personnel can be called, or the prisoner can be escorted to the medbay. The timer continues to run during this time.
Repeat Offender If a convict reoffends in the same way (especially if they are blatantly being annoying on purpose or clearly doesn’t care), they may receive a harsher punishment. A permabrig sentence isn’t out of the question (at the discretion of security’s leaders) if someone is constantly making security arrest them. Additional brig time, usually up to and including doubling of their last sentence. Use common sense for this. Permabrigging until they agree to compromise isn’t out of the question for multiple repeats.
Aiding and Abetting Knowingly assisting a criminal is a crime. This is including but not limited to: Interfering with an arrest, stealing a prisoner in transit, breaking them out, harboring them to hide them from security, healing up someone shooting security, etc. Up to and including the same sentence as the person they aided.
Escaping from Confinement Escaping from a brig sentence is an immediate timer reset. Sentence timer reset.

Contraband Policy

When dealing with contraband laws, intent and reasons provided for having something should be taken into account. Each section contains examples, but not the absolute list of what is considered contraband. Security is allowed to interpret as needed. - If someone does anything bad with said contraband, they are obviously charged for that too. Getting found with a powersink might not be a permabriggable offense, but being suspected of using it sure is! - Contraband is allowed inside certain departments. e.g. chemistry having narcotics for so-claimed research purposes without distribution, science having dangerous gear inside (which they legally acquired), etc. Running around the halls with it in open display, is another case. - Provided the correct reasoning, contraband may be excused - Having weapons out in an emergency like a shocktrooper boarding, utilizing chemicals as stimulants in emergencies/times of need. For these cases, the contraband policy is more aimed at passing things out willy-nilly. - Prior permission may be sought from whomever is in charge of security to have permits for these items provided valid reasoning.

Level One

Devices considered disruptive and mildly harmful to possess without reasoning. - Butcher knives outside of the kitchen - Running aroud in high grade armor outside of emergencies (cargo passed out SWAT suits again!) - High grade narcotics like methamphetamine, crank, bath salts, etc being distributed. - Space lube and similarly disruptive chemicals. People spamming “cheese” reactions everywhere, etc etc. - Stolen technology disks - Low level and non weaponized slime cores - Unmarked “floor pills”.

Level Two

Devices which are dangerous to possess without reasoning. - Blatantly mislabelled chemicals/medicine - Poisoned food, similar - Guns - Stunbatons - Harmful or unmarked low-yield grenades (small explosives, etc, not falling into level three) - The CE’s PDA password - Dangerous melee weapons the user has no need of (energy cutlass, spears, etc).

Level Three

Devices which are highly dangerous to the crew as a whole to possess without authorization. A scientist having a TTV outside of science for example, still counts under this unless they are strictly transporting it from place to place. - High yield explosives - Dangerous, militarized grenades (“Hellfoam”, gaseous incendiaries, biological/chemical foam, etc far beyond a small explosive/some hot air) - Theft of the Nuclear Authentication Disk, or worse, somehow having an actual nuke - Upload boards/circuits - Syndicate contraband clearly used to kill, with examples being the iconic energy sword, .357 revolvers, power fists, etc - Power sinks, similar mass-sabotage devices - Spells like Disintegrate - Harmful magical tomes and artifacts (heretic blades, tomes, living hearts, etc)