Space Law

Space Law
On Space Station 14, stations operate under abbreviated space law. All crew, passengers, and visitors aboard the station are expected to know and follow these laws (they are fairly common sense, only security and the captain need to know the times).

Due Process Procedures
A search warrant is a document listing all persons and areas to be searched with the signature of the authority authorizing the search. An arrest warrant is a document listing the individual to be arrested and on what charges with the signature of the authority authorizing the arrest.

An approved warrant must be presented before an arrest or search. Note that this changes depending on the alert status.

The persons authorized to approve a warrant are: The Captain, Head of Security or The Warden, in that order. Higher priority persons may defer down the list at their discretion. Under normal circumstances, it can be assumed that the Captain have deferred this responsibility to the HoS.


 * In the event that every person on the prior list is dead or out of contact, an active Security Officer may sign for charges and warrants but MUST have their actions reviewed and validated by the prior personnel as soon as possible. They may indefinitely hold individuals given a clear danger, but otherwise may only apply minimum charges.
 * Warrants against visitors should be handled as above, though they have no immediate superior.

Exceptions to presenting a warrant are:


 * Should security witness a crime, then a warrant can be approved and presented after the arrest.
 * If waiting for a warrant would cause further hazard to the ship or personnel, then a warrant may be approved and presented after the arrest or search.
 * Warrants required for the previous two circumstances can be approved by the Head of Security. However, they can still be overruled by The Captain.
 * Searches of public areas or of arrested individuals requires no extra warrant or authorization.

Crime

 * Crimes are divided into Low Crimes and High Crimes. Low Crimes can be charged, investigated, and punished directly by security. High Crimes should be heard and judged in a Court.
 * Security personnel can be tried in a Court-Martial for committing any High Crime, with the maximum listed punishment being applicable by the court martial.
 * Each crime has at least three sections: Minimum Punishment, Maximum Punishment, and Special Considerations.
 * Any punishments below the maximum punishment can be applied and the minimum punishment must at least be applied.
 * If someone has committed a crime, use common sense when applying a punishment: stealing someone's hat is very different to stealing the nuke disk.
 * In the event of multiple crimes in the same vein, like an individual that has committed maiming and murder on the same victim, only the charge for the most severe crime should be applied.
 * When applying charges extenuating circumstances can apply, lifting the punishment for the crime entirely or applying a reduced sentence. In this situation whether the commission of the crime is justified should be decided by the ranking member of security or The Captain. This includes situations such as: justifiable homicide, an emergency requiring trespassing, and self defense.

Sentencing Modifiers
Solicitation, Accessory, Attempts, and Conspiracy are to be treated and charged as if the perpetrator committed the associated crime. For example: an individual who is an accessory to murder will be punished as if they are charged with murder.


 * Solicitation: Encouraging, bribing, requesting, or instructing someone to commit a crime, with the intent that the person being solicited commit the crime.
 * Accessory: Assisting in the commission of a crime, without participating in the crime itself, knowing that a crime will be, has been, or is being committed.
 * Attempts: Attempting to commit a crime, with the intent to carry out that crime.
 * Conspiracy: Planning to commit a crime, with the intent to eventually carry out that crime.

Executions:

 * Execution: Termination of life. Anyone who has been given a sentence of death may choose how they wish to die. They should also be allowed to choose to receive painkillers, anesthesia, and/or tranquilizers.

Normal Punishments

 * Extended Confinement: Confinement in the brig until the end of shift.
 * Restriction: The restriction of an individual to certain areas aboard a vessel or facility. Typically sleeping quarters, the mess hall, and required medical facilities. Aboard the Station, this means that an individual on restriction is only permitted in: public hallways, the mess hall, the infirmary for medical care, arrivals and bunk rooms. (Typically this is just demotion with a fancy name.)
 * Confinement: Being held in the brig - either in a cell, solitary, or in a communal area - for some temporary period of time.

Treatment Of Prisoners
Prisoners still have certain rights that must be upheld by law enforcement:


 * Prisoners must be granted adequate medical care. They should also be provided psychiatric and spiritual counselling if requested.
 * Prisoners must be allowed access to communications equipment (Radios) 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 access to legal counsel during an interrogation if requested and available.
 * 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 extended or 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.

High Crimes

 * All maximum punishments marked with an asterisk (*) are special circumstance only punishments (such as a syndicate who has murdered several people).