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The spacelaw draft
{{mbox|text=This page is a '''user written guideline''' and does '''not''' override the server rules! It is not endorsed by Wizard's Den administration, and the administration may override you on it at any time.}}


=== Security's Role ===
=Security Guidelines=
The ultimate role of Security is to protect the crew and the station itself against threats internal and external (even though the crew is most often the larger of these two threats). Space Law exists to try and bring order and proteciton to the entire crew, so your actions to that end should reflect that. If you do something in good faith with intent to protect the crew (this includes the arrested!), odds are you have made a good choice given the situation.
The ultimate role of Security is to protect the crew and the station itself against threats internal and external (even though the crew is most often the larger of these two threats). Your actions as Security should aim to protect the crew, the station, and maintain order. If you do something in good faith with intent to further one of those, odds are you have made a good choice given the situation.


Above all, '''Space Law is a guideline, not a rule'''. Use your best judgement when deciding the course of action to take in a situation as you are not required to follow the law to the letter. Remember that the crew you detain or arrest are players too, and its no fun to throw those players in the permabrig all game for a comparatively minor offense.
Above all, '''these are guidelines, not rules'''. Use your best judgement when deciding the course of action to take. Remember that the crew you detain or arrest are players too, and its no fun to throw those players in the permabrig all game for a comparatively minor offense.


=== Enforcing Space Law ===
== Enforcement ==
Enforcing the law is, loosely put, stopping the crew from doing illegal things. This varies a little bit (like if drugs are considered illegal) but in general the biggest thing you need to look out for are things like contraband, illicit access, and obviously, physical harm and murder. Offenders must be subdued and brigged where possible, but ultimately your duty is to protect the crew and the innocent.
Enforcing the law is, loosely put, stopping the crew from doing illegal things. In general the biggest thing you need to look out for are things like contraband, illicit access, and obviously, physical harm and murder. Offenders must be subdued and brigged where possible, but ultimately your duty is to protect the crew and the innocent.


Security has the difficult task of trying to quickly assess a situation and make the best possible choice with usually little to no information. Breaking up a fight, for example, usually results in one person arrested, who claims they were in the right, and the other person running away scott free. Make your best possible judgement with what you have and try to use less-forceful options where it may be applicable.
Security has the difficult task of trying to quickly assess a situation and make the best possible choice with usually little to no information. Breaking up a fight, for example, usually results in one person arrested, who claims they were in the right, and the other person running away scott free. Make your best possible judgement with what you have and try to use less-forceful options where it may be applicable.


=== Lethality ===
== Sentencing Guidelines ==
Security is expected to remain non-lethal when the situation logically permits it. If you kill someone, you are usually expected to get them to the cloner and properly arrest them (or, deeply apologize if it was an accident and probably get demoted). It is almost always preferable to arrest someone rather then to kill them on the spot, but circumstances can enable the use of lethal force as an option if you so deem it needed (example, red-hardsuited nuclear operatives breaching the station and gunning down the crew? You better believe they are open season and left where they fall until there is no longer a threat).
These are very rough guidelines for sentencing to give you a feel of where certain types of crimes fall in terms of severity. Always remember you have discretion to increase or decrease sentencing based on the crime and circumstances around it, or to adjust it based on their behavior during arrest.


=== Lethal Force Situations against the Crew ===
{| class="wikitable"
Remember that where possible, Less Lethal force is usually preferred. Harming someone with lethal force when the situation could have probably been resolved more effectively with less lethal is not a good look for you and should be avoided where possible. Do not laser people to death after they collapse into crit unless you have a very, very good reason to do so, as you are expected to effect an arrest and tend to them instead of killing them outright.
|+ Brigging Guidelines
|-
! Brig Time !! Duration !! Description
|-
| None || Release after search || For very minor crimes that do not typically require waiting in the brig as the initial detaining and search usually warrants enough of an interruption.  
|-
| Minor || 1-3 Minutes || Minor crimes like petit theft or minor vandalism. Generally, detaining someone and searching someone after taking them to the brig may take this much time to begin with, so consider that when determining if they need additional brig time.
|-
| Moderate || 3-6 Minutes || Most average crimes like theft, aggravated battery, or trespassing in secure areas, depending on the circumstance. May also be used for repeat offenders of lower crimes.
|-
| Major || 6-10 Minutes || For most serious crimes (like homicide, grand theft, etc.) that do not elevate to a Permabrigging and for repeat offenders of lower crimes.
|}


Situations where lethal force may be permissible against a crew member:
You may also combine time in the brig with other punishments as you deem fit, so as long as they are appropriate. The below list is not exhaustive and is in no way the only alternative punishments that can be given. If appropriate, thinking of new punishments to subject a troublemaker to can be an enjoyable pastime.
* Lethal force (such as firearms or deadly melee weapons i.e energy swords, fire axes) used against you or a fellow innocent crewmember - This permits you to fire back lethally if such means are available to defend yourself or another crew member from attack (but if you make the wrong call on the situation, be prepared to answer for it, less lethal is preferred where possible)
{| class="wikitable"
* Less lethal options expended, criminal cannot be safely allowed to escape - If you only have lethal force left after exhausting other options and whoever you are chasing poses a threat to the station or crew (likely to cause harm to the crew or station assets, i.e stealing weapons, high value ID cards or other equipment, or syndicate agents), lethal can be used to INCAPACITATE them (not kill) to effect an arrest. This is less preferable but acceptable.
|+ Alternative Punishments
* Less lethal firearms or stunning weapons used against you - Generally you should meet this with your own less-lethal weapons, but it is safe to say if someone tases you and cuffs you, you are completely at their mercy and may be killed. If the totality of the situation permits, you may engage someone with stolen less-lethal weaponry with your own lethal weaponry to effect an arrest.
! Punishment !! Short Description !! Long Description
* Rioting/Overwhelming Odds - Groups of rioters or criminals who definitively equal or outnumber the immediately present security force and who intend to cause damage to the station, violence to another person, or otherwise disrupt station function can be engaged with lethal weapons if they do not disperse after being explicitly told to do so and warned that any remaining offenders will be engaged.  
|-
| Demotion || Fire the suspect from their current assignment || Demotion from the suspect's current assignment can be an effective way to remove a problematic individual from the department they are causing problems in if they happen to also work there. This is particularly useful against [[Chemist|Chemists]], [[Security Officer|Security Officers]], and particularly against [[Lawyer|Lawyers]] who have forgotten which side of the law they are on. If the affected Head of Staff is not requesting the demotion, you should clear the demotion with them first prior to putting it in motion. Keep the detainee in the brig until you can get their ID changed at the Head of Personnel's line and release them once you have their belongings and ID in order.
|-
| Permabrig || Indefinite confinement in the brig or permabrig || If you think releasing someone from the brig is probably much more danger to the crew then not, you can probably justify permabrigging them if you have proper reasoning and evidence to back it up. Releasing someone from permabrig can be easily done, so remember to offer that to the permabrigged if they behave as it may more positively earn their cooperation. It is also much easier to recover from a bad permabrigging decision then it is to recover from a bad execution decision, so use this when you aren't sure between the two.
|-
| Execution || Quick and Painful || ''Executions should be used as a last resort and must be approved by the [[Captain]] or acting Captain and your chain of command''. For only the worst offenders who cannot safely be contained in the permabrig, are a major threat to the station as a whole, or where keeping them in the permabrig is unlikely to be a satisfactory solution. Unapproved executions of detainees will get you in heaps of trouble. For the purpose of this punishment, this does ''NOT'' apply to those who die as the result of lethal force; this only applies to prisoners already in your custody and arrested.
|}


=== CONSIDERATIONS ===
Remember: circumstance is important in your assessment of sentencing. Someone who is cooperative, apologetic, or was committing the crime to genuinely help someone or the station can probably be left off easier or given amnesty entirely. Someone who is lying, intensely uncooperative, threatening to kill or bomb all of security, or threatening to call the admins you can probably let stew a little longer in the cell.
SEARCH - A thorough search of one's immediate belongings to uncover contraband. Technically speaking, you can do this to anyone at any time, though cooperation may vary. It is usually best to develop some sort of suspicion as to person's involvement in a crime before you search them. A witness claiming someone has a stolen ID, for example, gives you a good reason to search the alleged suspect for a stolen ID as described.


REPEAT OFFENDERS - Offenders you have previously brigged or reprimanded for a similar crime in the past. Some people never learn, so repeat offenders should have their sentencing increased depending on number and severity of offenses. Use your best judgement here. Two or three minor thefts in a row is still just moderate brig time for the most part, but two or three arrests for aggravated batteries or attempted homicides probably warrants a permabrig.
For repeat offenders who you have arrested previously, consider the situation and generally run them a harder sentence to discourage them from re-offending. Use your best judgement and consider the crime being committed. Someone who manages to get arrested two or three times for starting fights or attempting to kill someone, for instance, is probably well on their way to being permabrigged the next time.  


=== BRIG TIME GUIDELINES USED ===
Below is a very generalized list of types of crimes and the elements which constitute them. The elements of a crime are what need to be met to be guilty of it. Remember that it is poor form to brig someone just because you "think" they committed a crime; you should have very good reason to believe they did or have personally witnessed it, and intent is usually key. If the crime looks like it could be accidental, consider if an arrest is appropriate.
Anyone being brigged needs to be searched. Search them thoroughly and confiscate contraband or other illicit equipment.


NO BRIG TIME - Brigging is not really seen as required for this crime as the initial detaining and search usually warrants enough of an interruption.
== Crimes ==
MINOR BRIG TIME - 1-3 minutes or so, for repeat offenders of NO BRIG crimes or for minor crimes, depending on circumstance.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
MODERATE BRIG TIME - 3-6 minutes or so, for major repeat offenders or for most average crimes, depending on circumstance.
|+ Caption text
MAJOR BRIG TIME - 6-10 minutes or more, for repeat offenders who haven't learned after five times and for most serious crimes which do not elevate to a permabrig. Use best judgement and consider the circumstances.
|-
! Crime !! Elements !! Brig Suggestion !! Notes
|-
| Trespassing || Being in a secured area without permission or authorization from appropriate authority which oversees that area. || None to Minor || Check with the [[Head of Personnel]] to make sure they did not assign access without notifying anyone. A search of the detained is appropriate if they are suspected of stealing anything. Verify the accesses on the suspect's ID.
|-
| Trespassing (Felony) || Being in a high-security area without permission or authorization. || Moderate to Major || High-security areas include the Bridge, Captain's Quarters, Head of Staff Offices, Engineering, Atmospherics, the Armory, and Security's equipment and gear rooms. These areas have sensitive equipment which can cause a lot of damage if mishandled and are held to a higher standard of security. A search of the suspect is almost always appropriate if they are found unattended in a high-security area.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Petit Theft || Taking of minor items of little practical importance with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or control. || None to Minor || This covers theft of most minor objects like shoes, materials, food, or very low level ID cards. Returning the stolen property to its owner should be attempted.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Theft || Taking of items of practical importance with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or control. || Minor to Moderate || Typically more valuable but not irreplaceable items, including and not limited to: medical supplies, departmental ID cards, machines or gear relating to job functions, and most personal effects from the crew. Returning the stolen property should be attempted.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Grand Theft || Taking of sensitive items and equipment with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or control. || Moderate to Major || High level and dangerous equipment, including and not limited to: Head of Staff IDs, nuclear disk and codes, head of staff's personal equipment (hypospray, ID Computer board, etc.), firearms, guns, or other important objects. "I found it in disposals/maint" is not a valid excuse.
|-
| Minor Vandalism || Willfully breaking station equipment or property of minor importance. || None to Minor || Breaking or damaging station objects or equipment like interior windows (not those bordering space), doors, tearing up floor tiles, smashing lights, and other annoying behavior.
|-
| Vandalism || Willfully breaking sensitive station equipment or hampering station operations. || Minor to Moderate || Breaking windows to secure areas, destroying station infrastructure, cutting wires, tampering with airlocks to the degree they are non-functional, or building/placing structures in a way that impedes general movement or station operation (like building walls across main hallways).
|-
| Sabotage || Willfully destroying, damaging, subverting, degrading, or otherwise rendering vital station equipment non-functional where such action endangers station operations. || Major to Permabrig || Atmospherics sabotage, attempting to expose areas to space, sabotaging power by cutting wires or destroying substations/power generation/SMES units. Depending on the severity and scope of damage incurred, adjust punishment accordingly.
|-
| Arson/Bombing || Intentionally causing or facilitating a fire or explosion to damage the station or the crew. || Major to Permabrig || This crime is also designed to punish those who facilitate fires to take place but do not light them, such as dragging canisters of flammable gas into public areas or releasing it without lighting it. A person who facilitates arson or bombing in this manner is just as guilty as the person who intentionally lights it. Adjust punishment according to scope of damage caused.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Fighting, Affray, Brawling || Causing or participating in a fight in public venue outside of a sporting function (boxing) to the discredit of the public. || None to Minor || This is essentially any public fistfight or other similar brawl where both players mutually are fighting (example: barfights). Split the parties up as best as you can and try to arrest the instigator if you can determine one.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Assault || A direct threat of violence which causes the recipient of the threat fear of bodily harm and where the recipient believes the suspect has the means to carry out the threat. || None to Minor || Assault covers threatening violence and similar mannerisms. Do not arrest people on assault lightly as it is hard to prove and typically will put you in a more difficult situation if that is your only charge.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Battery || Any unwanted physical contact between two parties. || None to Minor || This includes shoving, punching, pulling, cuffing, stripping, disarming, and all similar behavior. Separate the offender(s) and victim(s) as best as you can and try to determine the instigator if you can (sometimes both parties are at fault).
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Battery (Aggravated) || Any unwanted physical contact which causes great bodily harm to the victim. || Minor to Moderate || Any amount of fighting, shooting, or otherwise injury to another party that needs a solid trip to medbay can usually be called Aggravated Battery. If the suspect makes an effort to bring the victim to medbay you may consider leniency.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Kidnapping, Abduction, False Imprisonment || Intentionally and without a valid purpose restraining or restricting someone's free movement or actions. || Moderate to Major || This includes things like cuffing someone and dragging them around, welding them in a locker or crate, or bolting them into a confined area without any valid reason.
|-
| Resisting Arrest (Without Violence) || Intentional fleeing or non-compliance with an arrest which does not cause undue harm to officers or the crew. || Minor || This constitutes running away from an arrest, moving away from cuffing attempts, or other evasive actions while trying to detain someone. Generally this charge will be an add-on.
|-
| Resisting Arrest (With Violence) || Intentional non-compliance with an arrest while trying to harm or disable those effecting the arrest or other crew. || Moderate || This includes open violence against you or other crew while trying to be arrested, disarming you for your equipment and using it against you, or other means to harm or disable you and the crew while escaping an arrest attempt.
|-
| Obstruction of Justice || Intentionally inhibiting the efforts of an officer to detain a suspect, or interfering with an officer's escort or handling of a detainee. Intentionally degrading an officer's ability to investigate a crime through non-compliance or other means. || Moderate || This is anyone's attempt to stop you from arresting someone, whether or not they believe the arrest to be valid is irrelevant. This can also include those trying to inhibit security's valid investigation by refusing to cooperate with them (i.e, not allowing them access to the department to investigate a valid complaint or intentionally withholding information or identities of those under investigation). A popular strategy to employ on those interfering with an arrest is to give them the same brig time as the person they tried to free.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Attempted Homicide || Causing harm to the victim with the ultimate intent to kill them. || Major || Proving intent to kill can be difficult but is possible (like if they're hitting the person after they go into critical condition). Consider the totality of the situation. If someone renders medical aid after they crit the victim, they probably didn't have the intent to kill.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Manslaughter || Killing or allowing another human being to die through negligence and without the intent to kill. || Major || The suspect has to have some kind of role in the death of the victim and has to have exhibited some kind of negligence that ultimately led to the victim's death. Examples: opening firelocks to spaced areas, allowing those in critical condition to expire, and other similar behavior.
|-style='background:#0c0c0C; color:white'
| Homicide || Willfully killing another human being. || Major || While this can obviously be observed directly, a homicide charge can be applied with strong circumstantial evidence (example: finding the ID of a deceased crewmember in the possessions of the murderer and finding the deceased crewmember's body hidden somewhere with the rest of their gear. This would be enough evidence to point they likely killed the person, hid the body, and stole the ID). Make sure your evidence to support this is strong, try to clone the victim if possible and get their story.
|-
| Treason, Enemy of Nanotrasen || Being employed by an entity known to be hostile to Nanotrasen. || Permabrig or Execution || This is definitive and strong evidence that the suspect is highly likely to be working for a hostile entity such as the Syndicate. Being in possession of highly dangerous and restricted contraband (like C4, syndicate firearms, Holoparasites, etc.) known to be used by Syndicate Agents, without an extremely good excuse, is generally enough to support this charge. This charge could also be established by the suspect's own admission.
|}


PERMABRIG - However long you see fit or however long it takes them to suicide. The golden rule here is this: If you think releasing them from the brig is probably much more danger to the crew then not, AND you have a valid reason to keep them in the permabrig, use this. Releasing someone from permabrig can easily be done so just let them know that if they behave they can be let out. It is also much easier to recover a bad permabrigging then it is to recover from a bad execution; so keep that in mind if you're on dubious ground of what to do when stuck between those two.
=== Crime Considerations ===
Make sure your application of charges is logical. You cannot charge someone with a murder and with the battery they did to commit the murder; only the highest charge counts in this case. For repeat offenders, consider upping the brig time to discourage re-offending.


EXECUTION - However long it takes you to kill them. Executions typically need to be approved by your Head of Security and the Captain and be backed up by a really, really good reason. Generally speaking, permabrig/execution are interchangable, but don't get gun happy because poor executions look really, REALLY bad to the crew and to administrators. Permabrig is the preferred option unless the permabrig has been rendered unlivable/unsecure or you have great reason to believe your offender needs to die.
== Lethal Force ==
Security is expected to remain non-lethal when the situation logically permits it. If you kill someone, you are usually expected to get them to the cloner and properly arrest them (or, deeply apologize if it was an accident and probably get demoted). It is almost always preferable to arrest someone rather then to kill them on the spot, but circumstances can enable the use of lethal force as an option if you so deem it needed (example, red-hardsuited nuclear operatives breaching the station and gunning down the crew? You better believe they are open season and left where they fall until there is no longer a threat).


Remember: circumstance is important in your assessment of sentencing. Someone who is cooperative, apoligetic, or was commiting the crime to genuinely help someone or the station can probably be left off easier. Someone who is lying, intensely uncooperative, threatening to kill or bomb all of security, or threatening to call the admins you can probably let stew a little longer in the cell.
=== Situations ===
Remember that where possible, Less Lethal force is usually preferred. Harming someone with lethal force when the situation could have probably been resolved more effectively with less lethal is not a good look for you and should be avoided where possible as this damages your relationship with the offender and sometimes the crew. Do not laser people to death after they collapse into critical condition unless you have a very, very good reason to do so, as you are expected to effect an arrest and tend to them instead of killing them outright.


=== CRIMES ===
Situations where lethal force may be permissible against a crew member:
This is a very generalized list of types of crimes you may run into and the elements of them. The elements of a crime are what need to be met to be guilty of it. Remember that it is poor form to brig someone just because you "think" they committed a crime, you should have very good reason to believe they did or have personally witnessed it. For example, arresting someone because someone else claims they stole their ID, but not finding any contraband in the person's possession, doesn't mean you should keep them arrested since you have no way of knowing if the victim is just lying.
* '''Attacked with lethal force''' - Against you or a fellow innocent crewmember, this usually permits you to answer with the same lethality if such means are available to defend yourself or the crew (but if you make the wrong call on the situation, be prepared to answer for it, less lethal is preferred where possible)
 
* '''Less-lethal not effective or available, must prevent escape''' - If you only have lethal force left after exhausting other options and whoever you are chasing poses a threat to the station or crew (very likely to cause harm to the crew or station assets, i.e stealing weapons, high value ID cards or other equipment, or syndicate agents/murderers), lethal can be used to incapacitate (not kill) them to effect an arrest. This is less preferable but acceptable.
==== TRESPASSING ====
* '''Suspect using less-lethal weapons against you''' - Generally you should meet this with your own less-lethal weapons, but it is safe to say if someone hits you with a taser and cuffs you, you are completely at their mercy and may be killed. If the totality of the situation permits, you may engage someone with stolen less-lethal weaponry with your own lethal weaponry to effect an arrest.
* Trespassing - Being in a secured area one is not supposed to be in or should not have access to (be careful as the HoP may have assigned them access to the area -- double check with him or her). Offenders who do not have any logical reason or purpose to be in a specific location should be removed and searched for anything that may have been stolen from the secured area, if such a possibility is suspected. Brig time is not generally necessary unless a repeat offender or the area is higher security. Double-check ID cards with the HoP and ensure the HoP actually gave that person access if any doubt exists.
* Tresspassing in a High Security Area - Being in a high security or sensitive area one is not supposed to be in. The Bridge, Engineering, the Armory, and all the manner of incredibly sensitive areas of the station. This carries a higher penalty due to the sensitive nature of these areas. The offender should be searched regardless of if anything is suspected of being stolen. Brig time ranges from minor to moderate, depending on circumstance.
 
==== THEFT ====
* Petit Theft - Theft/stealing of minor items of little practical importance with intent to keep it from the rightful owner. Shoes, materials, food, very low level IDs like assistant IDs, etc. Typically this only warrants a reprimand and return of stolen property to the owner, no brig time unless repeat offender.
* Theft - Theft/stealing of miscellaneous items that have practical importance. Department ID cards (engineering, medbay, etc), hoarding emergeny supplies or equipment, stealing machines or gear related to job functions, and theft of most personal effects from crew etc. Return of stolen property and minor brig time.
* Grand Theft - Theft/stealing of sensitive items and equipment. High-level (head of staff) IDs, nuclear disk and codes, head's of staff personal equipment, firearms, guns, and other things of extreme importance. Return of stolen property and depending on circumstance moderate to major brig time. "I found it in disposals" is not a valid excuse.
 
==== VANDALAISM/CRIMINAL MISCHIEF ====
* Minor Vandalism - Breaking of station equipment or property of little general importance. Breaking interior windows, tampering with airlocks to non-secure areas, tearing up floor tiles, smashing lights. Unless a repeat offender, no to minor brig time after a reprimand.
* Major Vandalism - Breaking of sensitive station equipment or hampering the station in general.  Breaking windows to secure areas, destroying infrastructure for no reason, cutting wires, tampering with airlocks to a degree that they are non functional. This also includes building or placing structures in a way that impedes general movement, i.e building walls across the main hallways so nobody can pass. Minor to moderate brig time after a reprimand.
* Sabotage - Intentional breaking or destroying sensitive station equipment which endangers the well-being of the station. Atmospheric sabotage, breaking windows to space, sabotaging or destroying substations or SMES units, sabotaging power generation, breaking into secure areas, etc. Moderate brig time to Permabrig/Execution depending on severity and scope of the damage and consequences thereof (sabotaging the entire station's power: you will probably be executed because its not fun to fix)
 
==== ASSAULT/BATTERY, VIOLENT CRIMES ====
* Fighting/Affray/Brawling - Whatever you want to call getting into a fight with someone else in public. Unless both parties agree to fight one another, you should try to break these up as it usually results in one side getting killed. Discourage public fighting and seperate the two, brig the instigator (or both if the situation requires) for minor brig time if required.
 
* Assault - Assault consitutes the threat of violence to someone without actually carrying out the threat. This isn't really a crime as you can't really do anything if no action has actually been taken. Keep an eye on these types of reports though as they can be helpful clues to potential future conflicts.
 
* Battery - Unwanted physical contact between two parties. Disarming, pushing, shoving, punching, hitting, pulling, stripping, all is really covered under battery. Seperate the offender(s) and victim(s) as best you can and try to determine an instigator if any (sometimes both parties are going to be at fault so use your best judgement). Minor brig time depending on the severity of interference, up the charge steadily for repeat offenses.
* Aggravated Battery - Unwanted physical contact which causes great bodily injury to the victim. Beating someone pretty good or into critical condition to the point where they need to go to medbay usually constitutes this. Given station cloning and medbay being available, if they make an effort to bring the victim to medbay or give them aid after the crime you may want to be a little more lenient. Minor to Moderate brig time depending on severity.
 
* Kidnapping/Abudction/False Improisonment - Intentionally and without a valid purpose restraining or restricting someone's movement in such a way that they cannot freely move or act. This would include cuffing someone and dragging them around, welding someone into a locker or crate, bolting them into an area, or other methods of impeding someone's free movement. Only assign this charge if there is not a valid purpose to restrain the victim. If the victim is being held to stop them from commiting crimes, then that's just the "suspect" being a good samaritan.
 
==== INTERFERING WITH SECURITY/RESISTING ====
* Resisting Without Violence - Resisting an arrest without causing undue harm to officers or the crew. Generally, this constitutes running away from an arrest attempt, moving away from cuffing attempts, or other evasive actions taken by someone you are trying to arrest to get away from you. Its generally an add-on charge and would constitute minor brig time.
* Resisting With Violence - Resisting an arrest while trying to hurt or disable those effecting the arrest. Disarming you to gain control of your weapons or open violence with melee weapons or firearms are both examples of this. Generally an add-on charge and consitutes minor to major brig time depending on the circumstance.
* Obstruction of Justice/Interfering with an Arrest - This is the absolute favorite of every greytider in the halls. This is any outside person's actions to inhibit your efforts to arrest someone, whether or not they believe the arrest to be vaild is irrelevant. Attempting to uncuff a detainee, pulling detainees away or otherwise removing them from your control, or directly attacking officers involved in an arrest can all be examples of this. Anything from Moderate bring time to Permabrig, depending on the danger and severity of the person you are arresting. If they manage to let a known traitor or murderer get free, consider a much heavier punishment when you catch them.
 
 
==== HOMICIDE/MURDER ====
* Attempted Homicide - A situation where you believe that if someone hadn't directly intervened that someone was in imminent threat of dying. A good example of this is someone who continues to beat someone down even after they are in critical condition. If you can seperate them before the victim dies, this can be an appropriate charge. Moderate to Major brig time.
* Manslaughter - A situation where someone negligently kills or allows a human being to die without intending to kill them. This is similar to attempted homicide and differs with the victim's death only. The suspect has to have some role in the death of the victim and has to have exhibited some kind of poor behavior that wouldn't be expected which caused them to die. A good example is opening a spaced area knowing full well it was spaced or letting someone in critical condition whom they beat die of their wounds. This is moderate to major brig time and is easier to work with then attempted homicide.
 
* Homicide - Wilful killing of another human being. This can obviously be observed directly but it could be implied or used in another way. A good example is an (in person) confession from the killer, multiple witness testimony, or circumstantial evidence that could point the suspect to have "more likely then not" killed the victim (example: finding the ID card of the deceased person among the suspect's possessions and having the deceased's body after it was stashed somewhere are two pretty strong connective pieces of evidence that makes it look very likely they pilfed the ID and hid the body to avoid blame, but don't get too overzealous as people may pick up IDs they find on corpses anyhow. Make sure you clone your victim and get his side of the story too). Moderate brig time to Permabrig, depending on any other crimes committed, their prior history that shift, and any other factors at play (example: self defense, while a dubious claim at best, might mitigate the sentence somewhat)
 
* Aggravated Homicide - Willful killing of another human being where efforts are made to inhibit cloning or other measures to bring them back to the realm of the living. Sabotoge of the cloner connected to a murder, gibbing or spacing bodies of recently deceased and uncloned crew, or attempting to hide corpses in unreachable locations among other activities. Essentially if they know they did a murder and try to do their best to hide it and stop the dead man from telling a tale, give them this one. Major brig time to permabrig or execution depending on factors at play, be smart about it.
 
==== TREASON/CONTRABAND ====
* Treason - Definitive evidence that the suspect is more likely then not working for a hostile entity, such as the Syndicate. Being in possession of highly restricted and dangerous contraband known to be used by Syndicate Agents only, without an extremely good excuse, is generally considered enough evidence of this crime. This includes anyone wearing syndicate space suits, gear, syndicate weapons, espionage equipment, etc. Any such contraband of that nature should immediately be siezed, the one in possession arrested, searched, and questioned. This crime runs Major brig time to Execution, highly dependent on the demeanor of the suspected and any additonal crimes (having just contraband alone is not reason to jump to an execution or permabrigging). Known agents should also have their PDAs siezed as these are known to contain Syndicate Uplinks which allow them access to illicit contraband.


For syndicate agents, take the whole picture into account. If your suspect is nonviolent and mostly cooperative, you can probably confiscate the contraband, give him a few minutes in the brig, and release him while keeping an eye on him. If your suspect is obviously uncooperative, resisting at every moment, and/or has previously attacked, attempted to kill, or successfully killed someone, consider permabrigging them for everyone's safety instead of letting them run loose. If you can artuculate that they'll be a threat to the crew at large, you can usually justify keeping them behind bars. Nature of the contraband is important as well. Espionage equipment like Agent ID's are much less dangerous then guns, explosives, and energy swords.  
=== Rioting or Numerous Offenders ===
The crew may sometimes group up and riot for various reasons at various locations. A large number of crew participating in this type of behavior makes it difficult to arrest any of them without getting attacked by the other members of the riot. The context of a riot or demonstration is important to determine action: if the participants are not actively impeding anyone's usual business and aren't committing any crimes, leave them alone to assemble and do as they please as merely assembling in one location isn't illegal.


* POSESSION OF CONTRABAND - Anyone who is in positive control of (in their direct possession or has it in an area only they would logically be able to access) items deemed to be illegal (such as syndicate equipment or restricted items like the RCD, or essentially anything that you have good reason to believe has been stolen from its rightful owner, that they would not have access to), without approval, is guilty of possessing contraband. DO NOT ARREST PEOPLE FOR THIS if they voluntarily turn it into security. You do not want to burn that bridge. It is generally better to accept contraband turned in on good faith with no questions asked, but circumstances permitting you may press your investigation further. This crime runs anywhere from no brig time to major brig time depending on the amount and nature of contraband siezed.
A demonstration from a few members of the crew becomes a riot when the crew involved starts committing crimes. Harming other crew members, causing damage to the station, or otherwise committing crimes as a group generally constitutes a riot. A whole riot can be immensely difficult to safely detain. Your best option if you want to move to detain them is to try and identify an instigator or a leader of the group. Use as many officers as you have available to rush the group, single him out, and remove him from the location. Try to arrest and remove one or two people at a time as if you are not at least on equal numbering with the rioters, other rioters will likely try to interfere and free their comrades. You can deposit the arrested in the brig and go back out for additional arrests if needed.


=== MULTIPLE CRIMES ===
If rioters are causing significant damage or disruption you may choose the option to utilize greater less-lethal or lethal force to subdue them. '''Any deployment of lethal force on rioters should be preceded by warning any participants that lethal force will be used if they do not disperse.''' Any crew member who values their life will generally remove themselves from the location on being warned of such and may save you the trouble. If they continue their behavior and disruption at a serious level, you may need to engage them with warning shots to get them to move away (hitting a few participants with a laser or a Drozd SMG with rubber bullets can help them get the message). Be prepared for a fight if any of the rioters have weapons as they may choose this moment to fight back. Try not to outright kill the crew, but if any pose a serious danger do not be afraid to gun them down after the warning has been given.
Obviously criminals like to do multiple crimes to be efficient. Your battery charge might also have an ID theft attached to it, or your murder might have six more murders and sabotage attached to it. Use your best judgement and generally go with the most severe crime. As far as multiple similar crimes are concerned, a victim of a Homicide also doesn't get to be a victim of a Battery by the same person, make sure its logical.

Latest revision as of 05:24, 27 February 2023

Security Guidelines

The ultimate role of Security is to protect the crew and the station itself against threats internal and external (even though the crew is most often the larger of these two threats). Your actions as Security should aim to protect the crew, the station, and maintain order. If you do something in good faith with intent to further one of those, odds are you have made a good choice given the situation.

Above all, these are guidelines, not rules. Use your best judgement when deciding the course of action to take. Remember that the crew you detain or arrest are players too, and its no fun to throw those players in the permabrig all game for a comparatively minor offense.

Enforcement

Enforcing the law is, loosely put, stopping the crew from doing illegal things. In general the biggest thing you need to look out for are things like contraband, illicit access, and obviously, physical harm and murder. Offenders must be subdued and brigged where possible, but ultimately your duty is to protect the crew and the innocent.

Security has the difficult task of trying to quickly assess a situation and make the best possible choice with usually little to no information. Breaking up a fight, for example, usually results in one person arrested, who claims they were in the right, and the other person running away scott free. Make your best possible judgement with what you have and try to use less-forceful options where it may be applicable.

Sentencing Guidelines

These are very rough guidelines for sentencing to give you a feel of where certain types of crimes fall in terms of severity. Always remember you have discretion to increase or decrease sentencing based on the crime and circumstances around it, or to adjust it based on their behavior during arrest.

Brigging Guidelines
Brig Time Duration Description
None Release after search For very minor crimes that do not typically require waiting in the brig as the initial detaining and search usually warrants enough of an interruption.
Minor 1-3 Minutes Minor crimes like petit theft or minor vandalism. Generally, detaining someone and searching someone after taking them to the brig may take this much time to begin with, so consider that when determining if they need additional brig time.
Moderate 3-6 Minutes Most average crimes like theft, aggravated battery, or trespassing in secure areas, depending on the circumstance. May also be used for repeat offenders of lower crimes.
Major 6-10 Minutes For most serious crimes (like homicide, grand theft, etc.) that do not elevate to a Permabrigging and for repeat offenders of lower crimes.

You may also combine time in the brig with other punishments as you deem fit, so as long as they are appropriate. The below list is not exhaustive and is in no way the only alternative punishments that can be given. If appropriate, thinking of new punishments to subject a troublemaker to can be an enjoyable pastime.

Alternative Punishments
Punishment Short Description Long Description
Demotion Fire the suspect from their current assignment Demotion from the suspect's current assignment can be an effective way to remove a problematic individual from the department they are causing problems in if they happen to also work there. This is particularly useful against Chemists, Security Officers, and particularly against Lawyers who have forgotten which side of the law they are on. If the affected Head of Staff is not requesting the demotion, you should clear the demotion with them first prior to putting it in motion. Keep the detainee in the brig until you can get their ID changed at the Head of Personnel's line and release them once you have their belongings and ID in order.
Permabrig Indefinite confinement in the brig or permabrig If you think releasing someone from the brig is probably much more danger to the crew then not, you can probably justify permabrigging them if you have proper reasoning and evidence to back it up. Releasing someone from permabrig can be easily done, so remember to offer that to the permabrigged if they behave as it may more positively earn their cooperation. It is also much easier to recover from a bad permabrigging decision then it is to recover from a bad execution decision, so use this when you aren't sure between the two.
Execution Quick and Painful Executions should be used as a last resort and must be approved by the Captain or acting Captain and your chain of command. For only the worst offenders who cannot safely be contained in the permabrig, are a major threat to the station as a whole, or where keeping them in the permabrig is unlikely to be a satisfactory solution. Unapproved executions of detainees will get you in heaps of trouble. For the purpose of this punishment, this does NOT apply to those who die as the result of lethal force; this only applies to prisoners already in your custody and arrested.

Remember: circumstance is important in your assessment of sentencing. Someone who is cooperative, apologetic, or was committing the crime to genuinely help someone or the station can probably be left off easier or given amnesty entirely. Someone who is lying, intensely uncooperative, threatening to kill or bomb all of security, or threatening to call the admins you can probably let stew a little longer in the cell.

For repeat offenders who you have arrested previously, consider the situation and generally run them a harder sentence to discourage them from re-offending. Use your best judgement and consider the crime being committed. Someone who manages to get arrested two or three times for starting fights or attempting to kill someone, for instance, is probably well on their way to being permabrigged the next time.

Below is a very generalized list of types of crimes and the elements which constitute them. The elements of a crime are what need to be met to be guilty of it. Remember that it is poor form to brig someone just because you "think" they committed a crime; you should have very good reason to believe they did or have personally witnessed it, and intent is usually key. If the crime looks like it could be accidental, consider if an arrest is appropriate.

Crimes

Caption text
Crime Elements Brig Suggestion Notes
Trespassing Being in a secured area without permission or authorization from appropriate authority which oversees that area. None to Minor Check with the Head of Personnel to make sure they did not assign access without notifying anyone. A search of the detained is appropriate if they are suspected of stealing anything. Verify the accesses on the suspect's ID.
Trespassing (Felony) Being in a high-security area without permission or authorization. Moderate to Major High-security areas include the Bridge, Captain's Quarters, Head of Staff Offices, Engineering, Atmospherics, the Armory, and Security's equipment and gear rooms. These areas have sensitive equipment which can cause a lot of damage if mishandled and are held to a higher standard of security. A search of the suspect is almost always appropriate if they are found unattended in a high-security area.
Petit Theft Taking of minor items of little practical importance with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or control. None to Minor This covers theft of most minor objects like shoes, materials, food, or very low level ID cards. Returning the stolen property to its owner should be attempted.
Theft Taking of items of practical importance with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or control. Minor to Moderate Typically more valuable but not irreplaceable items, including and not limited to: medical supplies, departmental ID cards, machines or gear relating to job functions, and most personal effects from the crew. Returning the stolen property should be attempted.
Grand Theft Taking of sensitive items and equipment with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or control. Moderate to Major High level and dangerous equipment, including and not limited to: Head of Staff IDs, nuclear disk and codes, head of staff's personal equipment (hypospray, ID Computer board, etc.), firearms, guns, or other important objects. "I found it in disposals/maint" is not a valid excuse.
Minor Vandalism Willfully breaking station equipment or property of minor importance. None to Minor Breaking or damaging station objects or equipment like interior windows (not those bordering space), doors, tearing up floor tiles, smashing lights, and other annoying behavior.
Vandalism Willfully breaking sensitive station equipment or hampering station operations. Minor to Moderate Breaking windows to secure areas, destroying station infrastructure, cutting wires, tampering with airlocks to the degree they are non-functional, or building/placing structures in a way that impedes general movement or station operation (like building walls across main hallways).
Sabotage Willfully destroying, damaging, subverting, degrading, or otherwise rendering vital station equipment non-functional where such action endangers station operations. Major to Permabrig Atmospherics sabotage, attempting to expose areas to space, sabotaging power by cutting wires or destroying substations/power generation/SMES units. Depending on the severity and scope of damage incurred, adjust punishment accordingly.
Arson/Bombing Intentionally causing or facilitating a fire or explosion to damage the station or the crew. Major to Permabrig This crime is also designed to punish those who facilitate fires to take place but do not light them, such as dragging canisters of flammable gas into public areas or releasing it without lighting it. A person who facilitates arson or bombing in this manner is just as guilty as the person who intentionally lights it. Adjust punishment according to scope of damage caused.
Fighting, Affray, Brawling Causing or participating in a fight in public venue outside of a sporting function (boxing) to the discredit of the public. None to Minor This is essentially any public fistfight or other similar brawl where both players mutually are fighting (example: barfights). Split the parties up as best as you can and try to arrest the instigator if you can determine one.
Assault A direct threat of violence which causes the recipient of the threat fear of bodily harm and where the recipient believes the suspect has the means to carry out the threat. None to Minor Assault covers threatening violence and similar mannerisms. Do not arrest people on assault lightly as it is hard to prove and typically will put you in a more difficult situation if that is your only charge.
Battery Any unwanted physical contact between two parties. None to Minor This includes shoving, punching, pulling, cuffing, stripping, disarming, and all similar behavior. Separate the offender(s) and victim(s) as best as you can and try to determine the instigator if you can (sometimes both parties are at fault).
Battery (Aggravated) Any unwanted physical contact which causes great bodily harm to the victim. Minor to Moderate Any amount of fighting, shooting, or otherwise injury to another party that needs a solid trip to medbay can usually be called Aggravated Battery. If the suspect makes an effort to bring the victim to medbay you may consider leniency.
Kidnapping, Abduction, False Imprisonment Intentionally and without a valid purpose restraining or restricting someone's free movement or actions. Moderate to Major This includes things like cuffing someone and dragging them around, welding them in a locker or crate, or bolting them into a confined area without any valid reason.
Resisting Arrest (Without Violence) Intentional fleeing or non-compliance with an arrest which does not cause undue harm to officers or the crew. Minor This constitutes running away from an arrest, moving away from cuffing attempts, or other evasive actions while trying to detain someone. Generally this charge will be an add-on.
Resisting Arrest (With Violence) Intentional non-compliance with an arrest while trying to harm or disable those effecting the arrest or other crew. Moderate This includes open violence against you or other crew while trying to be arrested, disarming you for your equipment and using it against you, or other means to harm or disable you and the crew while escaping an arrest attempt.
Obstruction of Justice Intentionally inhibiting the efforts of an officer to detain a suspect, or interfering with an officer's escort or handling of a detainee. Intentionally degrading an officer's ability to investigate a crime through non-compliance or other means. Moderate This is anyone's attempt to stop you from arresting someone, whether or not they believe the arrest to be valid is irrelevant. This can also include those trying to inhibit security's valid investigation by refusing to cooperate with them (i.e, not allowing them access to the department to investigate a valid complaint or intentionally withholding information or identities of those under investigation). A popular strategy to employ on those interfering with an arrest is to give them the same brig time as the person they tried to free.
Attempted Homicide Causing harm to the victim with the ultimate intent to kill them. Major Proving intent to kill can be difficult but is possible (like if they're hitting the person after they go into critical condition). Consider the totality of the situation. If someone renders medical aid after they crit the victim, they probably didn't have the intent to kill.
Manslaughter Killing or allowing another human being to die through negligence and without the intent to kill. Major The suspect has to have some kind of role in the death of the victim and has to have exhibited some kind of negligence that ultimately led to the victim's death. Examples: opening firelocks to spaced areas, allowing those in critical condition to expire, and other similar behavior.
Homicide Willfully killing another human being. Major While this can obviously be observed directly, a homicide charge can be applied with strong circumstantial evidence (example: finding the ID of a deceased crewmember in the possessions of the murderer and finding the deceased crewmember's body hidden somewhere with the rest of their gear. This would be enough evidence to point they likely killed the person, hid the body, and stole the ID). Make sure your evidence to support this is strong, try to clone the victim if possible and get their story.
Treason, Enemy of Nanotrasen Being employed by an entity known to be hostile to Nanotrasen. Permabrig or Execution This is definitive and strong evidence that the suspect is highly likely to be working for a hostile entity such as the Syndicate. Being in possession of highly dangerous and restricted contraband (like C4, syndicate firearms, Holoparasites, etc.) known to be used by Syndicate Agents, without an extremely good excuse, is generally enough to support this charge. This charge could also be established by the suspect's own admission.

Crime Considerations

Make sure your application of charges is logical. You cannot charge someone with a murder and with the battery they did to commit the murder; only the highest charge counts in this case. For repeat offenders, consider upping the brig time to discourage re-offending.

Lethal Force

Security is expected to remain non-lethal when the situation logically permits it. If you kill someone, you are usually expected to get them to the cloner and properly arrest them (or, deeply apologize if it was an accident and probably get demoted). It is almost always preferable to arrest someone rather then to kill them on the spot, but circumstances can enable the use of lethal force as an option if you so deem it needed (example, red-hardsuited nuclear operatives breaching the station and gunning down the crew? You better believe they are open season and left where they fall until there is no longer a threat).

Situations

Remember that where possible, Less Lethal force is usually preferred. Harming someone with lethal force when the situation could have probably been resolved more effectively with less lethal is not a good look for you and should be avoided where possible as this damages your relationship with the offender and sometimes the crew. Do not laser people to death after they collapse into critical condition unless you have a very, very good reason to do so, as you are expected to effect an arrest and tend to them instead of killing them outright.

Situations where lethal force may be permissible against a crew member:

  • Attacked with lethal force - Against you or a fellow innocent crewmember, this usually permits you to answer with the same lethality if such means are available to defend yourself or the crew (but if you make the wrong call on the situation, be prepared to answer for it, less lethal is preferred where possible)
  • Less-lethal not effective or available, must prevent escape - If you only have lethal force left after exhausting other options and whoever you are chasing poses a threat to the station or crew (very likely to cause harm to the crew or station assets, i.e stealing weapons, high value ID cards or other equipment, or syndicate agents/murderers), lethal can be used to incapacitate (not kill) them to effect an arrest. This is less preferable but acceptable.
  • Suspect using less-lethal weapons against you - Generally you should meet this with your own less-lethal weapons, but it is safe to say if someone hits you with a taser and cuffs you, you are completely at their mercy and may be killed. If the totality of the situation permits, you may engage someone with stolen less-lethal weaponry with your own lethal weaponry to effect an arrest.

Rioting or Numerous Offenders

The crew may sometimes group up and riot for various reasons at various locations. A large number of crew participating in this type of behavior makes it difficult to arrest any of them without getting attacked by the other members of the riot. The context of a riot or demonstration is important to determine action: if the participants are not actively impeding anyone's usual business and aren't committing any crimes, leave them alone to assemble and do as they please as merely assembling in one location isn't illegal.

A demonstration from a few members of the crew becomes a riot when the crew involved starts committing crimes. Harming other crew members, causing damage to the station, or otherwise committing crimes as a group generally constitutes a riot. A whole riot can be immensely difficult to safely detain. Your best option if you want to move to detain them is to try and identify an instigator or a leader of the group. Use as many officers as you have available to rush the group, single him out, and remove him from the location. Try to arrest and remove one or two people at a time as if you are not at least on equal numbering with the rioters, other rioters will likely try to interfere and free their comrades. You can deposit the arrested in the brig and go back out for additional arrests if needed.

If rioters are causing significant damage or disruption you may choose the option to utilize greater less-lethal or lethal force to subdue them. Any deployment of lethal force on rioters should be preceded by warning any participants that lethal force will be used if they do not disperse. Any crew member who values their life will generally remove themselves from the location on being warned of such and may save you the trouble. If they continue their behavior and disruption at a serious level, you may need to engage them with warning shots to get them to move away (hitting a few participants with a laser or a Drozd SMG with rubber bullets can help them get the message). Be prepared for a fight if any of the rioters have weapons as they may choose this moment to fight back. Try not to outright kill the crew, but if any pose a serious danger do not be afraid to gun them down after the warning has been given.

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