Official:Space Law

Note: This page is moderated and can be referenced in ooc issues, such as ban appeals, complaints, reports, etc. This may not apply to the pages this page links to.

Note: Unlike TGstation, yogstation has adopted space law as a part of their rules.

Space Law is a collection of rules and regulations enacted by Nanotrasen which has oversight through CentCom and is enforced by the Security Force of the station. Space Law applies to all ranks and positions on the station, from the lowliest Assistant to the highest Captain, all are equal under the eyes of the Law and ultimately answer to her.

Crime Codes Quick Reference

Use this to quickly find the Crime Code Numbers.

Crime codes are made up of Category Codes (_xx), which are a collection of similar crimes on a line for ease of use, prefixed by the Severity Number (X__).
In the case of crimes in the same crime code category, take only the most severe (eg: Indecent Exposure and Rioting - Rioting).

Crime Codes Quick Reference

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Interpretation of the Law

Good working knowledge of Space Law is important for any person on the station. It can be the difference between a shiny pair of handcuffs and sipping Gargle Blasters in the bar. More in-depth interpretations of space law are required for such positions as the Lawyer, Warden, HoP, and the HoS. While it is unlikely that the officers will listen particularly closely to your protestations, it may be enough to lighten your sentence and avoid ill-treatment by security.

For certain crimes, the accused's intent is important. Some crimes can be difficult to tell between, such as Assault and Attempted Murder. It is important to note though, that Assault and Attempted Murder are mutually exclusive. You cannot be charged with Assault and Attempted Murder from the same crime as the intent of each is different. Likewise, 'Assault With a Deadly Weapon' and 'Assaulting an Officer' are also crimes that exclude others.

• When in doubt, you should default to the less serious crime.
• Pay careful attention to the requirements of each law and select the one that best fits the crime when deciding sentence.
• In the case of crimes in the same crime code category, take only the most severe (eg: Indecent Exposure and Rioting - Rioting).
• A single incident has a single sentence. If the prisoner took three items off of someone, this is a single count of pick-pocketing. If they pick-pocketed two people this would be two separate counts of pick-pocketing, and so on.
• Aiding a criminal makes you an accomplice; you can be charged with the same crime as the person you aided.

Brig Procedures

Standard Operational Procedures for brigging are as follows:

1. Take the prisoner to the brig and inform the Warden of their crimes so their Security Record may be updated.
2. Take the prisoner to a brig cell, set the time and activate the timer.
3. Enter the cell with the prisoner in tow, open the cell locker and hold the prisoner over it.
4. Empty their pockets and remove their gloves, backpacks, tool belt, gas masks, and any flash resistant equipment such as Sunglasses, Welding Masks/Goggles, Space Helmets, etc. Make sure the prisoner is clothed once you have completed this step.
5. Buckle the prisoner to the bed.
6. Search the items removed and be sure to check the internals box in their backpack.
7. Confiscate any contraband and/or stolen items, as well as any tools that may be used for future crimes.
   These are to be placed in evidence, not left on the brig floor or your personal use, until they can be returned to their rightful owners.
8. Close the locker and lock it.
9. Stun the prisoner, remove their cuffs, stun them again, pick up the cuffs then leave the cell.
10. Modify their brig sentence for additional offenses or good behavior, if applicable.

Do NOT fully strip the prisoner unless they have earned a permanent sentence.

In the event of a sentence exceeding the 20 minute limit of the timer inform the Warden so he may add the rest of the time later.

In the instance of prisoners that have earned Labor Camp duty, you must dress them in orange overalls and assign them targets, based on their sentence, by getting a prison ID, putting it in a Prisoner Management Console, assigning their quota and then giving them the ID as you ship them to the Labor Camp. There are more details on this procedure at Labor Camp.**

NOTE: If you plan on using the gulag for several incidences [meaning the floors are already mined so people can't mine the floors for glass], you should use a lower conversion rate.

The Warden or Head of Security are responsible for placing prisoners and in permanent confinement.

1. Permanent Prisoners are to be completely stripped of their belongings, which are to be held in either evidence or a prison locker.
2. The prisoner is to be dressed in an Orange Prison Jumpsuit and Shoes, which are found in the prison lockers.
3. Permanent Prisoners are not permitted to possess any personal belongings whilst they are incarcerated in the Prison Wing.
   1. The Labor Camp can also be used to hold Permanent Prisoners. Simply do not issue a prisoner ID when transferring them to the camp.

Fines Within Space Law

• Prisoners are permitted to request paying a fine to pay off part or all of their sentence, however, you are under no obligation to agree to this. Capital crimes may not be paid off.
• Fines are not to be kept for personal use, they must be deposited and the sentence time adjusted appropriately. Failure to do so may result in you being charged with embezzlement.
• In the case of fines, the warden is your superior. If they find a fine amount too lenient or severe you must adjust it as requested before the fine can be processed.

You may choose an alternative amount to charge, the following are just guidelines:
One Minute Crimes(1XX)
$50 fine per offense
Immediate release

Three Minute Crimes(2XX)
$100 fine per offense
Reduces sentence by 2 minutes

Five Minute Crimes(3XX)
$150 fine per offense
Reduces sentence by 2 minutes

Seven Minute Crimes(4XX)
$200 fine per offense
Reduces sentence by 2 minutes

Ten Minute Crimes(5XX)
$300 fine per offense
Reduces sentence by 3 minutes

What to do with fine money

• Command staff should hand the money to a member of security.
• Security officers should hand the money to the warden or the HOS.
• The warden has a paystand available to use in their office, fines are to be deposited into this.

Legal Representation and Trials

Prisoners are permitted to seek legal representation however you are under no obligation to provide or allow this.

Lawyers, and by extension the Head of Personnel, exist to serve as a guiding hand and the voice of reason within the judicial process, however, they have zero authority over the brig, security personnel, prisoners, or sentencing.

The Lawyer's security headset is a privilege, not a right. Security personnel are under no requirement to listen to them and security channel abuse is to result in that privilege being revoked.
If the lawyer continuously acts as a disruptive influence Security are fully permitted to confiscate their access, remove them from the brig and bar their future access to it.

• In instances where a conflict of opinion arises over the sentence of a prisoner the chain of command must be followed. This goes, from top to bottom: Captain > Head of Security > Warden > Sec Officer / Detective.
• Trials are not to be performed for Timed Sentences.
• Trials may be performed for Capital Crimes and Permanent Detention, however, there is no requirement to hold them. Forensic Evidence, Witness Testimony, or Confessions are all that is required for the Head of Security, Warden or Captain to authorize their sentence.
• In cases where the Death Penalty is desired but the Captain or Acting-Captain is unable or unwilling to authorize the execution a trial is required to authorize the death penalty.

Use of Deadly Force

As a member of the station Security force, you are one of the best armed and protected people on the station, equipped with the almost latest in non-lethal takedown technology.

It is for this reason that the situations that warrant the use of Deadly Force are few and far between, in the grand majority of circumstances you will be expected to use your stun weapons, which indeed are many times more effective than lethal options, to diffuse a situation.

There are a few circumstances where deadly force is permissible:

• Code Red Situation - situations which would warrant a Code Red, such as full-blown mutinies, hostile boarding parties, and Space Wizards automatically authorize lethal force.
  Note: The Alert Status is not required to be elevated to Code Red as in most of these scenarios the Chain of Command will be too damaged or otherwise occupied to raise the Alert Level.
• Non-Lethal Weapons Ineffective - certain targets are impervious to NLWs, such as Mechs, Xenomorphs, Borgs, and Hulks. Lethal force may be used against these targets if they prove hostile.
• Severe Personal Risk - sometimes getting close enough to a target to slap the cuffs on will create a significant personal risk to the Officer. Deadly force from range is recommended to subdue Wizards and Changelings.
  • Criminals in hostile environments such as space, fire, or plasma leaks also fall into this category, as do criminals believed to be in possession of high explosives. Ranged lethal force is the only reasonable option in these conditions.
• Armed and Dangerous - if a suspect is in possession of weapons, including stun weapons, and you have reasonable suspicion that they will use these against you, lethal force is permitted. Although in the majority of cases it is still preferable to attempt to detain them non-lethally.
  • Unauthorized personnel in the armory are considered by default to be Armed and Dangerous, maximum force is permitted to subdue such targets.
• Multiple Hostiles - it can be extremely difficult to detain multiple hostiles. As a last resort if you are being mobbed you may deploy your baton in a harmful manner to thin the crowd. Generally, it is better to retreat and regroup than stand your ground.

Additionally, in the event of an attempted prison break, Security may fire lasers through the glass. They are expected to first fire a few warning shots before unloading their weapon into the target.

Executions within Space Law

One of the below conditions must be met before seeking approval from the Captain or a Trial for execution.

1. The criminal is a danger to other prisoners, including attempting to or successfully murdering other prisoners in the permanent brig or labor camp.
2. The criminal poses a reasonable ability and desire to escape the permanent brig or labor camp unassisted and cannot be cyborgized.
3. The criminal cannot be safely sent to the permanent brig, the labor camp, or to be cyborgized.
4. The criminal gives written consent to be executed.

Remember: Executions cannot be performed with just the Captain's order or a Trial, they must meet one of the other criteria above as well.

An exception to the above criteria would be if the Use of Deadly Force is permissible by the Use of Deadly Force clause stated previously.

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The Detective

• The detective cannot arrest criminals unless a lack of security personnel or an emergency forces them to.

• The detective is expected to use weapons for self-defense only unless permitted by appropriate authority or an emergency forces them to. This includes their revolver.

What counts as an "emergency" for the detective?

• When anyone's life is in danger.
• When someone is committing a capital crime.
• When someone is breaking into a restricted area.

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Petty Crimes

All of these crimes carry a 1 minute sentence.

Code		Crime	Description	Notes
101		Resisting Arrest	To not cooperate with an officer who attempts a proper arrest.	Follow proper arrest procedure and have a legitimate cause to arrest in the first place before you brig a suspect for this. Suspects who scream bloody murder while being arrested are not cooperating.
102		Pick-Pocketing	To steal items from another's person.	Remember to take the stolen items from the person and arrange for their return. Stealing an ID is the most common and most serious form of pick-pocketing.
103		Drug Possession	To possess space drugs or other narcotics by unauthorized personnel.	Botanists and MedSci staff are authorized to possess drugs for purposes of their jobs and are not subject to this law so long as they are not distributing or using them for profit or recreation. This law also applies to characters less than 21 years old that are found to be in possession of alcohol.
106		Indecent Exposure	To be intentionally and publicly unclothed.	Running around the station naked. The mutual degradation of chasing a naked man down while he screams rape is only worth it on slow shifts.
107		Cosmetic Vandalism	To deliberately vandalize the station.	Vandalism that does not harm the station or its equipment. Graffiti falls under this.
108		Petty Theft	To take items from areas one does not have access to or to take items belonging to others or the station as a whole.	Keeping items which are in short supply where they belong is what is important here. A doctor who takes all the surgical tools and hides them still commits theft, even though he had access.
109		Trespass	To be in an area which a person does not have access to. This counts for general areas of the ship, and trespass in restricted areas is a more serious crime.	Remember that people can either break in, sneak in, or be let in. Always check that the suspect wasn't let in to do a job by someone with access, or was given access on their ID. Trespassing and theft are often committed together; both sentences should be applied.

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Minor Crimes

All of these crimes carry a 3 minute sentence or a 200 point target at the Labor Camp.

Code		Crime	Description	Notes
201		Assault	To use physical force against someone without the apparent intent to kill them.	Depending on the amount and kind of force used, severe instances should be elevated to attempted manslaughter or even murder. Assaults with deadly weapons are a higher crime.
203		Narcotics Distribution	To distribute narcotics and other controlled substances.	Forcing or tricking someone to consume substances such as space drugs is assault. This law also applies to those who distribute alcohol to persons under 21 years of age.
204		Possession of a Weapon	To be in possession of a dangerous item that is not part of their job role.	Items capable of a high level of damage, such as saws, axes, and hatchets fit into this category. Do remember that if it is an item that is part of their job they are permitted to carry it.
205		Possession, Contraband	To be in possession of illegal or prohibited goods.	A comprehensive list of these items can be found here: Contraband.
207		Destructive Vandalism	To deliberately damage the station without malicious intent.	Sentence depends on quantity of property damaged.

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Moderate Crimes

All of these crimes carry a 5 minute sentence or a 500 point target at the Labor Camp.

Code		Crime	Description	Notes
306		Rioting	To partake in an unauthorized and disruptive assembly of crewmen that refuse to disperse.	It is required to order the crowd to disperse, failure to disperse is the crime, not the assembly. Any crimes committed during the riot are considered separate offenses.
307		Creating a Workplace Hazard	To endanger the crew or station through negligent or irresponsible, but not deliberately malicious, actions.	Good examples of this crime involve accidentally causing a plasma leak, slipping hazard, accidentally electrifying doors, breaking windows to space, or Security personnel not keeping their equipment secure.
308		Theft	To steal restricted or dangerous items	Weapons fall into this category, as do valuable items that are in limited supply such as insulated gloves, spacesuits, and jetpacks. Note that Cargo breaking open crates to illegally arm and armor themselves are guilty of theft.
310		Breaking and Entry	Forced entry to areas where the subject does not have access to. This counts for general areas, and breaking into restricted areas is a more serious crime.	Crew can still be charged with breaking & entry even if they do not enter the area themselves.
311		Insubordination	To disobey a lawful direct order from one's superior officer.	Charge issued by a head of staff to one of their direct subordinates. The person is usually demoted instead of incarcerated. Security is expected to assist the head in carrying out the demotion.

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Major Crimes

All of these crimes carry a 7 minute sentence or a 600 point target at the Labor Camp.

Code		Crime	Description	Notes
401		Assault of an Officer	To use physical force against a Department Head or member of Security without the apparent intent to kill them.	Criminals who attempt to disarm or grab officers while fleeing are guilty of this, even if barehanded. Officers should refrain from using lethal means to subdue the criminal if possible.
404		Possession of a Restricted Weapon	To be in possession of a restricted weapon without prior authorization, such as guns, batons, flashes, grenades, etc.	Any item that can cause severe bodily harm or incapacitate for a significant time. The following personnel has an unrestricted license to carry weapons and firearms: Captain, HoP, all Security Personnel. The Barman is permitted his double-barrel shotgun loaded with beanbag rounds. Only the Captain and HoS can issue weapon permits.
405		Possession of Explosives	To be in possession of an explosive device.	Scientists and Miners are permitted to possess explosives only whilst transporting them to the mining asteroid, otherwise, their experimental bombs must remain within the Science department.
406		Inciting a Riot	To attempt to stir the crew into a riot	Additionally to the brig time the offender will also have restrictions placed on their radio traffic and be implanted with a tracking implant. For second offenses or outright instigating violent uprisings consider charging with Mutiny.
407		Sabotage	To hinder the work of the crew or station through malicious actions.	Deliberately releasing N2O, bolting doors, disabling the power network, and constructing barricades are but some of many means of sabotage. For more violent forms, see Grand Sabotage.
409		Major Trespass	Being in a restricted area without prior authorization. This includes any Security Area, Command area (including EVA), The Engine Room, Atmos, or Toxins Research.	Being in a very high-security area, such as the armory or the Captain's Quarters, is a more serious crime, and warrants a time of 10 minutes with a possible permabrigging if the intent is believed to be malicious.
410		B&E of a Restricted Area	This is breaking into any Security area, Command area (Bridge, EVA, Captains Quarters, Teleporter, etc.), the Engine Room, Atmos, or Toxins research.	As a major crime sentences start at 7 minutes, but can be extended if security believes the break-in was for attempted Grand Theft or attempted Grand Sabotage (insulated gloves don't count as grand theft).

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Severe Crimes

All of these crimes carry a 10 minute sentence or an 800 point target at the Labor Camp.

Code		Crime	Description	Notes
501		Assault With a Deadly Weapon	To use physical force, through a deadly weapon, against someone without the apparent intent to kill them.	Any variety of tools, chemicals or even construction materials can inflict serious injury in short order. If the victim was especially brutalized, consider charging them with attempted murder.
503		Manslaughter	To unintentionally kill someone through negligent, but not malicious, actions.	Intent is important. Accidental deaths caused by negligent actions, such as creating workplace hazards (e.g. gas leaks), tampering with equipment, excessive force, and confinement in unsafe conditions are examples of Manslaughter.
505		Possession, Syndicate Contraband	To be in unauthorized possession of syndicate or other PTE technology.	Objects in this category are highly illegal, and are produced by organizations or companies outside of Nanotrasen.
508		Embezzlement	To misuse a security or command position to steal money from the crew.	In the case of officers taking fine money for themselves, a demotion is recommended for the offending officer. An officer forgetting to deposit fine money is not a crime, providing they hand over the money when requested to.
511		Dereliction of Duty	To willfully abandon an obligation that is critical to the station's continued operation.	A demotion is often included in the sentence. Emphasis on the word critical: An officer taking a break is not dereliction in of itself. An officer taking a break knowing that operatives are shooting up the Captain is. Engineers who do not secure a power source at the start of the shift and heads of staff who abandon the station can also be charged.

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Capital Crimes

These crimes can result in Execution, Permanent Prison Time, Permanent Labor Camp Time, or Cyborgization.
Only the Captain, HoS, and Warden can authorize a Permanent Sentence.
Only the Captain can authorize an Execution or Forced Cyborgization.

Code		Crime	Description	Notes
601		Murder	To maliciously kill someone.	Punishment should fit the nature of both the crime and the criminal. Murder committed by temporary emotional distress, such as fear or anger, warrants lower punishments. Cyborg candidates must have brains fit to obey relevant laws. Life imprisonment is the most humane option for the insane who might malfunction as cyborgs. Important: Shadowlings and Changelings can be charged under this law due to do how their mechanics function. Unauthorised executions are classed as Murder.
602		Sexual Assault	To molest or otherwise sexually attack someone.	ERP scenes, regardless of OOC consent by all parties, is a violation of server rules, and worthy of a permanent ban. Adminhelp it if this happens to you or you see it; it's against server rules, not just station rules.
603		Attempted Murder	To use physical force against a person until that person is in a critical state with the apparent intent to kill them.	Remember, if a person attempts to render first aid after the victim falls into a critical state they may not have the intent to kill them.
606		Mutiny	To act individually, or as a group, to overthrow or subvert the established Chain of Command without lawful and legitimate cause.	Mutiny is not as clear cut as it may seem, there may be a legitimate reason for their actions, such as their head of staff being utterly incompetent. This is one of the few crimes where it is recommended to always seek a third party opinion. If their actions are determined to be for the betterment of Nanotrasen consider a timed sentence or even a full pardon.
607		Grand Sabotage	To engage in maliciously destructive actions, seriously threatening crew or station.	Bombing, arson, releasing viruses, deliberately exposing areas to space, physically destroying machinery, electrifying doors, or turning off the gravity generator all count as Grand Sabotage.
608		Grand Theft	To steal items of high value or sensitive nature.	Syndicate agents frequently attempt to steal cutting-edge technology. Examples include: intelligence or research samples, the Hand Teleporter, the Captain's Antique Laser, the Captain or the HoP's ID cards, or Mechs. This is by no means an exhaustive list of items that are high value to the syndicate; when in doubt use common sense when you see certain items that are stolen that can cause massive problems throughout the station. Remember if something is locked up in a secure area it probably should not be taken without prior permission.
609		Priority Threat Entity	To be found as a designated high priority threat to the station.	Entities of this nature currently include Changelings, Servants of Ratvar, Blood Cultists, Nuclear Operatives, Revolutionaries, Wizards, Vampires, Gangsters, Shadowlings, Heretics, Darkspawn, Abductors, Ashwalkers, Pirates, Ninjas, and Nightmares. Note that this is one of the few crimes for which you may summarily execute someone if they present a significant risk to detain them.

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Modifiers & Special Situations

Situation	Description	Modification
Brainwashed	Prisoners found to have been brainwashed or converted by illegal means.	Prisoner is to be held until they can be returned to normal state. Immediate release following deconversion. Sole exception being Shadowling Thralls: If no reasonable way exists to save a thrall, then they may be executed and cloned as able.
Self Defense	Self Defense is defined as "The protection of oneself, the protection of thy colleagues, and the protection of thine workplace". Do note however that persons intentionally getting involved in fights which occur in a department that isn't theirs is an act of vigilantism, this is not permitted.	Immediate release.
Cooperation with prosecution or security	Being helpful to the members of security, revealing things during questioning or providing names of head revolutionaries.	-25% to sentence time. In the case of revealing a head revolutionary: Immediate release.
Surrender	Coming to the brig, confessing what you've done and taking the punishment. Getting arrested without putting a fuss is not surrender. For this, you have to come to the brig yourself.	-25% to sentence time, and should be taken into account when the choice between life in a secure cell, execution, and cyborgization is made.
Immediate threat to the prisoner	The singularity eats something near the brig, an explosion goes off, etc.	Officer must relocate the prisoner(s) to a safe location; otherwise, immediate release.
Medical reasons	Prisoners are entitled to medical attention if sick or injured.	Medical personnel can be called, or the prisoner can be escorted to the Medbay. The timer continues to run during this time.
Sparking a Manhunt	In addition to Resisting Arrest, a prisoner that must be chased for at least 2 minutes after an arrest is attempted can have their sentence increased.	1 minute added to their sentence for every 2 minutes the chase lasted.
Repeat Offender	If a convict reoffends after being released they may receive a harsher punishment. Depending on the severity of the crimes committed after the third, or even second, strike their sentence may be increased to Permanent Imprisonment.	Additional brig time.
Escape from Brig	If a prisoner flees confinement for any reason other than to escape impending lethal danger (fire, hull breach, murder), reset their timer to their full original punishment.	Reset timer.
Aiding and Abetting	Knowingly assisting a criminal is a crime. This includes but is not limited to: Interfering with an arrest, stealing a prisoner in transit, breaking a prisoner out of the brig/prison, hiding a fugitive, providing medical care (unless paired with a large dose of sleep toxins).	The same sentence as the original criminal.
Paying a Fine	Paying money to the arresting officer or their superior.	Reduction to sentence time. See "Fines within Space Law" for further details.