Corporate Law
On Space Station 14, stations operate under abbreviated space law. All crew, passengers, and visitors aboard the station are expected to follow these laws.
Foreign invaders, such as nuclear operatives, ninjas, and pirates, are not protected under space law. Traitors are not foreign invaders so are usually protected by space law.
Security Procedures
Treatment of Prisoners
- Prisoners must be granted adequate medical care.
- Prisoners must be allowed access to basic communications equipment so long as they are not abused.
- Prisoners must be granted clothing, food, water, shelter and safety. If the brig is no longer safe, confinement must be established in another location.
- Prisoners must be given legal counsel during an interrogation if requested and available.
- Prisoners must be given their shift mandated PDA after confinement has finished, unless there is solid proof of PDA tampering. In case of tampering, the PDA is to be secured and replaced with a new unit.
- Prisoners must be granted freedom of movement and should not be restrained with handcuffs or other devices after incarceration unless there is an undue risk to life and limb. Similarly, any prisoners held for permanent confinement should be held in the communal brig, and should not be confined to a solitary cell unless they pose a risk to life and limb.
Search and Seizure
A personnel search is a seizure of the objects in a person's backpack, hands, coat, belt, and pockets. If any contraband is found during a search, the officer may choose to further the search into a detainment or simply confiscate the restricted items. After the search is conducted, all legal items are to be returned to the person. A crewmate may legally decline any search conducted without probable cause or a warrant while the alert level is green. It should be noted that if the alert level is blue or above, all personnel searches are legal.
A departmental search is the sweep of an entire area or department for contraband. It is recommended that the officers be extremely thorough, checking all lockers, crates, and doors. These can only be done with permission or, ideally, a warrant signed by the department head or highest-ranking command staff, which is the captain in most cases.
Implantation
Any prisoner in custody can be subjected to implantation or implant removal procedures, so long as it's within reason. The process of adding an implant should not prolong the detainees sentence, meaning you can not hold them longer to administer the implant, unless stated otherwise. A former inmate can be requested to undergo implantation at a later point in time if they fit the circumstances during their confinement, they must comply. The following have been listed out with special circumstances, anything not in this list can still be applied, given proper legal context. A prisoner can still receive implantation procedures without meeting the circumstances if they give their clear permission.
- Tracking Implants: Trackers can be applied to any suspect that has been convicted of a violent crime.
- Mind Shields: Shields can be administered to any inmate who has been clearly mind controlled, lost control of themselves, or a suspect charged with unlawful control. Unlike standard implantation you may hold a prisoner until you finish issuing Mind Shields, so long as it's done in a timely fashion. If a suspect refuses to cooperate or the implant fails to function they can be charged with Refusal of Mental Shielding.
A suspect can be forced to receive implant removal if there is strong, reasonable proof that they have been implanted, such as an officer seeing them use one or Identifying information is found on a discarded injector. Unlike the implantation procedure, a prisoner can have their sentence entirely delayed or extended until they comply with the procedure, as long as security is actively making attempts to perform it. Akin to implanting, if an inmate gives their clear permission, implant removal can proceed without proof.
Sentencing
Sentencing of under 10 minutes is the responsibility of the arresting officer. When an individual has been detained, they must be promptly marked as such in the Criminal Records Computer. Likewise, when they have been released they must be promptly marked as such before being escorted out of Security. If an individual has been detained but had no preexisting warrant, their criminal record should be updated to reflect them- marking them as wanted and writing in why, before marking them detained.
Informing the Warden of any arrests and sentences is not required under 10 minutes, but is suggested when able. The Warden or Head of Security must be informed of any sentences that would exceed 10 minutes before the sentence is given. Sentences of over 15 minutes must only be given in cases where Space Law would permit permanent confinement.
It is the responsibility of the Captain, Head of Security, and Warden to ensure that security officers place appropriate sentences that follow Space Law. If they are aware of an inappropriate sentence, such as excessively long sentences, and if there is not an urgent threat or danger that they must prioritize, then they must work to correct that sentence.
Use common sense and humanity when issuing punishments. You should not always seek out the highest punishment you can, you don't have to always give the maximum time or always look to demote someone. Prisoners cooperating and on good behavior should have their sentences reduced. Always take in account the severity and only charge for what is needed for someone to learn their lesson.
- Stackable Crimes: Crimes are to be considered 'stackable' in the sense that if you charge someone with two or more different crimes, you may combine the times you would give them for each crime.
- If a suspect has committed Major Possession and Syndicate Possession, the maximum sentence would be 10 minutes due to them being linked crimes.
- If a suspect has committed Secure Trespass and Manslaughter, the maximum sentence would be 20 minutes due to them being unlinked crimes.
- Context is vital. If you are unsure, seek assistance from the Warden or Head of Security.
- Repeat Offenders: Repeated crimes are when someone is released for a crime and then goes to commit the same crime again within the same shift. Repeated crimes can be charged with tacked-on time. The first repeat adds 3 minutes, the second 6 minutes, and the third may permit permanent confinement.
- Accessory, Attempting, and Intention: If someone intentionally, knowingly and substantially assists someone in enacting a crime they can be charged with the relevant crimes, such as an engineer giving someone tools, who says they are going to break into an area. Same goes for a clear and solid attempt at a crime, or a person who shows clear intent to act out a crime, such as a syndicate nuclear operative arming a nuke but getting arrested before it goes off, they can still be charged with terrorism. Does not apply to crimes that have an attempted listing already, such as attempted murder.
Normal Punishment
- Warning: For minor crimes it is best to fix the issue then warn the person not to attempt the crime again. If they still proceed to do it at a later date, a brig time may be better.
- Confinement: The typical punishment of being confined in a cell for a temporary amount of time according to the crimes.
- Demotion: Entails removing all departmental gear they have on their person and removing the involved department access off their ID. This requires the captain's or involved department head's approval. Demotions should only be issued if the person poses a threat to their own department or is in a position where they have/can abuse their job's gear to commit further crimes.
Major Punishment
- Permanent Confinement: Being held in the permanent brig for the remaining duration of the shift. A person is eligible for permanent confinement if their timed sentence would exceed 15 minutes. Any persons subject to this punishment are required to be safely transported in cuffs to CentComm at the end of the shift. A permanent prisoner can not be deprived of anything covered by the section "Treatment Of Prisoners".
- Execution: A humane way of dealing with extremely unruly crewmates. Within reason, a prisoner who has been given the death sentence may pick how they wish to be killed, common methods are firing line, lethal injection, exile, and high voltage electrocution. An alternate method of "execution" is the process of placing the prisoner's mind into a borg, this is allowed so long as it is lawful. Execution can only be issued with the captain's or acting captain's approval; if the HoS is acting captain or there is no acting captain, all heads of staff are to hold a vote on the matter.
Legal Representation and Trials
Prisoners are permitted to seek legal representation to challenge charges. Petty sentences, that is sentences totalling less than 10 minutes of prison time, are below the interest of the court and should not be brought to trial unless directly requested by the Magistrate. The duties and privileges of an Internal Affairs Agent are as follows:
- Advise Security in the sentencing of prisoners.
- Act as legal consultants to the accused if requested, the situation is deemed worth while, and they desire to or are ordered to by the Magistrate.
- Handle investigations into misconduct on the part of any department at their own discretion or the discretion of the Magistrate or Captain.
While Internal Affairs Agents are vested with these responsibilities, they have zero authority over the Brig, Security personnel, prisoners, or sentencing. They can be barred from the Brig by the Magistrate, HoS, Warden, or Captain if they are disruptive. And they may be demoted if they continue to be disruptive. While Internal Affairs Agents are responsible for investigating other departments, they do not have authority over them.
The Magistrate acts as the highest court, and is the appointed Judge of any case that goes to trial. Should the Magistrate be unavailable, the Head of Security, Head of Personnel, or Captain may act in their stead. In cases where one of these mediators or their subordinates is directly involved, they should not be acting as Judge over the case. For example, if an Internal Affairs Agent is on trial, the Magistrate and Head of Security should not act as Judge. If a Security Officer is on trial, the Head of Security should not act as Judge. And if a member of Service is on trial, the Head of Personnel should not act as Judge.
Jurisdiction
Every part of the station in totality is the property of NanoTrasen and falls within the jurisdiction of CentComm to enforce Space Law. Central Command and the Space Port that the Arrivals Shuttle docks to, including the Arrivals Shuttle and Evac Shuttles, are also within CentComm's jurisdiction. CentComm also has authority through contractual agreements to enforce Space Law on all Automated Trade Shuttles.
Outside of specific circumstances, CentComm's jurisdiction does not extend to private property, defined as any shuttle not directly owned by CentComm or NanoTrasen. Visitor's shuttles are explicitly private property, and an unwarranted search of private property is considered Trespassing. This does not make these shuttles lawless, or outside of the law however. Shuttles within the same Grid as a Station may be subjected to Space Law if any of the following criteria are met:
- A criminal has boarded a shuttle, with or without permission, while being actively pursued
- These is a reasonable belief that the occupants of the shuttle harbor hostile or criminal intent towards the Station or it's Crew
- A crime occurring on the shuttle has been witness from outside of the shuttle
- A crime has been witnessed by someone onboard the shuttle who was given permission to enter
- A warrant has been issued by the Warden, Head of Security, Captain, or CentComm
Any individual onboard a Station or Shuttle that is under the jurisdiction of Space Law is also under its jurisdiction, whether they are Crew, Visitors, or otherwise.
Penal Code
Enforcement of the Law
The enforcement of Space Law is the duty of those vested with such responsibility and no others. Unauthorized civilian enforcement of the law is classified as vigilantism and is strictly illegal. Only the Captain or Central Command may authorize civilian participation in the enforcement of Space Law, under dire circumstances. Actions to preserve one’s own life and property, or the life of another, are not classified as vigilantism so long as all other laws are followed. Acting to assist an on-scene officer may be counted as an exception and not vigilantism on a case by case basis, if the action was deemed necessary to prevent further harm to the officer or other civilians.
Those vested with the responsibility to enforce Space Law are defined as follows:
- Security - Members of the Security Department are always valid to enforce Space Law, and should be deferred to by all other law enforcement within reason.
- Blue Shield - Members of Blue Shield are always valid to enforce Space Law, but is only allowed if it is to prevent further harm to command or central command personnel.
- Mercenaries - Hired Mercenaries under the direct employ of Central Command may, in extreme circumstances, be permitted by Central Command to enforce Space Law. They are however required to operate under the command of the Head of Security and not to circumvent Security.
- Emergency Response Teams - Members of an ERT are valid to enforce Space Law on deployment to Stations. They are however required to operate under the command of the Head of Security and not circumvent Security, unless directly ordered otherwise by Central Command.
Quick Crime Guide
Note: Please refer to the links to the full charges for specifics on their definitions, and the time served for each. This cheat sheet it to remind, not to teach.
Linked Crimes:
Crimes that are linked can not be charged together. For more information, refer to Sentencing.
- Failure to Comply, Breach of Arrest, Breach of Custody, Refusal of Mental Shielding
- Possession or Use of Minor Contraband, Major Contraband, or Syndicate Contraband
- Petty Theft, Grand Theft, and Armed Robbery
- Vandalism, Damage of Property, Mass Destruction, Terrorism
- Trespass, Secure Trespass
- Endangerment, Minor Assault, Major Assault, Manslaughter, Attempted Murder, Prevention of Murder, Prevention of Arrival, Mass Murder, Unlawful Execution
- Disturbance, Vigilantism, Rioting
- Sedition, Conspiracy, Treason
Minor Crimes
Those who commit a minor crime should be issued a warning for their first offense, however repeat offenses are cumulative and may result in jail time of up to 5 minutes per minor crime committed.
| Offense | Description |
|---|---|
| Animal Cruelty | To inflict unnecessary suffering or harm on a non-sapient being with malicious intent. This does not include legitimate and authorized animal testing, or the butchering of livestock for meat. This also does not extend to vermin, or hostile creatures. |
| Possession or Use of Minor Contraband | To make, hold, or use minor contraband without authorization. Authorization may only be granted by the Captain or the Head of Security. This includes items restricted to a specific department. |
| Petty Theft | To take non-vital or inexpensive property of another individual, organization, or common property, without consent. Theft of safety or medical equipment such as breath masks, air tanks, or necessary mobility aids are considered vital, and exceed petty theft. |
| Vandalism | To intentionally deface or superficially damage public or private property. Examples include graffiti, smashing glasses or windows, excessively littering, and excessively producing spills. |
| Trespass | Trespass - To enter a non-secured area without permission, such as climbing over counters to enter employee areas like the Bar or Kitchen. |
| Disturbance | To cause a public disturbance. This is the catch-all for excessive obnoxious behavior, and includes public nudity, harassment, inciting crime, repeated and intentional misgendering, and disruption of authorities or communications. |
| Impersonation and Fraud | To pretend to be someone you are not, or attempting to commit fraud in any fashion. Impersonation may be elevated to a Moderate crime if the perpetrator is impersonating a member of Security, or a Major crime if they are impersonating a member of Command or Central Command. |
Moderate Crimes
Those who commit a moderate crime may receive up to a 5 minute sentence per moderate crime committed.
| Offense | Description |
|---|---|
| Failure to Comply | To resist reasonable orders given by an authority. This includes lawful detainment and authorized searches. Officers are required to warn the individual before resorting to arrest. |
| Possession or Use of Major Contraband | To make, hold, or use major contraband without authorizations. Only the Captain may authorize individual use of major contraband. Any items restricted to Security or Command are deemed as major contraband. |
| Damage or Destruction of Property | To maliciously damage or deface public or private property or equipment. This includes equipment vendors, drink dispensers, computers, and machinery such as lathes. |
| Endangerment | To recklessly put yourself or others in danger, either through direct action or failure to act. This includes negligence, accidents, medical malpractice, destruction or impairment of safety features such as firelocks and exterior windows, and reckless piloting of shuttles. |
| Minor Assault | To assault another without a weapon and without causing serious injury. Serious injury is defined as any life altering injury such as loss of limb, damage to the eyes or ears, or any other damages measured by a Health Analyzer to be exceeding 30 total. |
| Bribery | To attempt or succeed to bribe officials to be derelict of their duties or commit a crime with any payment including but not limited to; Services, favors, spesos, credits, materials, or items of any kind. This also applies to anyone caught accepting a bribe, and is cumulative with whatever crime they were bribed to commit. |
| Vigilantism | To attempt to unlawfully enforce Space Law without vested authority. See: Enforcement of the Law. |
Major Crimes
Those who commit a major crime may receive up to 10 minutes of jail time per major crime committed. Major assault and manslaughter are linked crimes and do not stack against a suspect. Additionally, reduced sentencing is recommended for compliant suspects.
| Offense | Description |
|---|---|
| Conspiracy | To conspire or plan to commit a moderate or major crime with reasonable evidence that the suspect was going to go through with the plan. This would include declaring they are going to commit a crime. |
| Armed Robbery | To steal something with the threat of violence using anything that can be considered a weapon, whether or not the weapon is contraband or not. This can include knives, toolboxes, crowbars, or any number of other improvised weaponry. There must be an active threat of violence, or the implication of violence if the victim does not comply, in order to be considered armed robbery. |
| Sedition | To incite rebellion against the authority of the station including but not limited to; Command, Security, Central Command, or Nanotrasen. |
| Perjury | To intentionally lie under oath or make a false statement in a written document |
| Forgery | To forge a written document through illicit means, such as rewriting a stamped document, unauthorized use of an official stamp, or any other means. |
| Breach of Arrest | To intentionally resist and flee arrest or detainment by an authorized staff. This only applies if someone is actively being physically arrested. People uncuffing or assisting others out of an arrest can also be charged with this. Breach of custody is a separate crime. |
| Possession or Use of Syndicate Contraband | To make, hold, or use Syndicate contraband. Syndicate contraband may only be used in emergencies, and only to prevent death or gross bodily harm. |
| Grand Theft | To take critical or irreplaceable property of another individual or organization without consent. This includes command items such as door remotes, hardsuits, machine parts, and hijacking a department shuttle. |
| Mass Destruction | To cause massive damage to an area or major station system. This includes major bombings and sabotage of critical station systems like power, medical, chemistry, substations, and atmospherics. |
| Secure Trespass | To enter a secured area without permission. If the area is behind a locked door, it is secure trespass. This includes telecomms, department head offices, command areas, the vault, and the armory. |
| Major Assault | To assault another with a weapon or unarmed assault resulting in serious injury. Serious injury is defined as any life altering injury such as loss of limb, damage to the eyes or ears, or any other damages measured by a Health Analyzer to be exceeding 30 total. |
| Manslaughter | To incidentally kill a sapient being without intent. This includes manslaughter in self-defense and negligent manslaughter. |
| Rioting | To participate in a large group of personnel creating an unlawful public disturbance. Leaders of a riot may be charged with all the crimes committed under their lead, plus sedition. |
Extreme Crimes
Those who commit an extreme crime may receive up to 15 minutes of jail time per extreme crime committed. Particularly violent offenders may be placed in perma. Attempted murder and murder are linked crimes and cannot be stacked together. Attempted murderers should be granted lesser sentences than an actual murderer.
| Offense | Description |
|---|---|
| Breach of Custody | To break out of a cell or custody with the intention of escaping. This applies to people breaking others out. Repeat offenses may have this charge increased to permanent confinement and later elevated to an execution with the Captain’s authority only if the suspect has repeatedly committed breach of custody. Breach of custody for the preservation of life, not including to escape execution, such as to vacate a location made dangerous due to gunfire, fire, spacing, or lack of oxygen- may be reduced or ignored at the Warden or Head of Security’s discretion. |
| Unlawful Detainment | To unlawfully restrain, transport, control, or confine a sapient being against that individual’s will. This is a catchall to cover any form of kidnapping or forced control. |
| Attempted Murder | To make an attempt to end someone’s life, using physical force or otherwise. Proof that action was taken with the intent to kill is necessary, such as a lethal weapon being used. |
| Murder | To kill a sapient being with malicious intent. If the victim must be revived, it is murder and not attempted murder. |
| Treason | To willfully betray allegiances to NanoTrasen. This includes collaborating with terrorists, and especially applies to members of Command attempting to illegally forsake their duties to the detriment of the Station and Nanotrasen. |
| Cannibalism | To consume any part of a sapient being. Consumption of vital components should be treated more harshly. This can be charged on top of other charges such as Murder or Assault if the suspect committed these crimes to obtain the parts consumed. |
Capital Crimes
Those who commit a capital crime should be detained in perma, or executed with authority from the Captain. Emergency executions may be enacted by the Head of Security with at least 3 other Command as witnesses, but must be reported directly to Central Command afterwards for review.
| Offense | Description |
|---|---|
| Refusal of Mental Shielding | To refuse to comply with a reasonable Mind Shielding procedure. Applies if the suspect is excessively uncooperative or the implant fails to function due to the mental state of the prisoner being too far gone. If the implant fails, execution is heavily recommended. |
| Terrorism | To engage in malicious destructive actions which threaten to destroy or successfully destroy a vessel, habitat, or station. This includes extreme sabotage of station systems or setting off the self-destruction systems. |
| Unlawful Execution | To unlawfully execute an individual without authorization or outside of Standard Operating Procedure. This law is distinct from murder, and applies primarily to Security, Command, and Central Command forces such as Emergency Response |
| Prevention of Revival | To render a body un-resurrectable. This includes gibbing, throwing a body into space, intentionally hiding a body, unlawfully incinerating a body, or any other ways of preventing a body with a soul from being resurrected. |
| Mass Murder | To kill three or more sapient beings with malicious intent. Only applies when there have been multiple killings with intention. |
Civil Code
Religious Freedom
Religious Freedom is the right to believe and practice your faith within reason, so long as this practice does not violate any other laws. Religious rites that are considered a minor crime may be given exemption warrants by the Captain or Head of Personnel. Crimes exceeding a minor crime can not be given exemption warrants. Willing sacrifice must be vetted and verified by Security, and legally signed by the sacrifice.
Silicon Clause
Silicons such as Cyborgs, Personal AIs, and AIs are granted several protections and exceptions under Space Law.
- Silicons are by nature bound by their laws, and can not be Unlawfully Detained. Silicons are the property of their owners however, and theft of a Silicon is classified as Grand Theft.
- Violence against a Silicon is treated the same as violence against any other sapient creature, and the perpetrator may be charged with minor assault, major assault, manslaughter, or murder.
- Any law broken by a Silicon while under orders is considered to be committed by whoever gave the orders and is not the Silicon’s responsibility. A Silicon that is not bound by standard laws to follow orders is legally responsible for their own actions and crimes.
- Silicon laws may only be altered to ensure the safety of the crew. A Silicon with non-standard laws is not inherently considered harmful. Unbound Silicons who break Space Law may have their laws altered as part of their sentence.
Changelings
Confirmed Changelings are not legally protected by Space Law. An individual suspected of being a Changeling may, on Code Blue or higher, be detained and forced to undergo a blood test to determine their nature. Any Changeling found to have committed minor or major assault, manslaughter, or murder should be executed. Blood tests are required as legal proof that an individual is a Changeling, first hand testimony is not enough to authorize an execution. Failure to procure a valid blood test is Unlawful Execution regardless of who authorized it.
Clowns
Clowns are permitted exemption from certain Minor crimes by the Carnival Treaties so long as the offenses are not repeated. These are; Trespass, Disturbance, Impersonation and Fraud. Per stipulations mandated by the Honkdignitaries, “You get one for free.” Clowns are also recognized as the legal enforcers of the Vow of Silence; any Mime who breaches their Vow may be legally harassed by any Clown without the Clown facing repercussions, so long as no other laws are broken to do so.
