This might come in handy in the near future, so give me any suggestions you have. Here are some I’ve been thinking about:
Kidnapping, maybe the more severe form of a law that forbids cuffing or tying people up, which may be a stronger version of a law that says not to keep people somewhere against their will.,
Misuse of a position of authority, ordering people to commit crimes, abusing people under your command, and such.
And just to demonstrate that there are no dumb laws in this thread:
Failure to follow procedure, the softest version of the negligence law category, an infraction you get fined for. Literally making not following SOP a crime.
Please, do not spam, do not discuss or talk. Just dump your idea in here. You can discuss outside of this thread :3
I’m not sure of any specific law to cite as reference, but it could be interesting to add or refine laws that can be used to encourage applying them against security (assuming there’s a competent lawyer playing). This could give players more IC options to push back if they feel an officer is abusing their power, be it antag or non-antag crew doing so. The laws could be worded broadly enough to apply to any crew member, but still feel relevant to use against security.
To be clear, this should remain IC and not bleed into OOC reports (e.g., “Not following SOP” or “They broke X law and didn’t get punished”). If someone wants to pursue it IC, it should go up the chain of command — and if nothing happens, then that just means the command doesn’t care Which is already often the case when players try to press charges, but that’s a problem that’s outside the scope of this.
I know some laws (like Assault) can already be used against security, but in practice I’ve rarely, if ever, seen any officers charged. It’s probably due to the fact we’re already low on security for most shifts, so the thought of arresting or demoting one of them would be detrimental. However, I feel that most laws come across like they’re written for — and to be used against — the crew, not for security; even if they still technically apply to them.
I feel like SOP should make it a point to prioritize bigger targets such as round ending threats rather than go after someone who had only stolen something minor or anything below murder.
Sec officers who do not go after the bigger threat are punishable for dereliction of duty or negligence for not focusing on the bigger threat at hand. Many times I have seen almost all of sec just chasing one person who has managed to do something so minuscule for the entire round instead of a space dragon, vines, xenos etc.
people who keep breaking out of genpop should be sent out of the air lock with just a bag of chips, get borged, or filleted to death. Play stupid game win stupid prizes
Additionally, make it so brig is harder to break out of because just after one person trying to get out twice should be enough for something like a dog collar that will shock them continuously if they step foot outside the brig.
There is a difference between detainment and arresting. Detainment is to keep a person in one place for the time being without actually arresting them, this is used for people who keep trying to interfere with an ongoing crime scene, for them to stop trying to attack the other person or officer, or if you have suspicion they are a criminal and bring them in for questioning. Arresting is for when you have proof they did a crime and are going to bring them to prison.
This isn’t really a law, but procedures outlining just when and what detainment and arrest, and reasonable suspicion vs probable cause would also be beneficial.
So: Detain>Search>Arrest
You need “reasonable suspicion” to detain,
You can ONLY search someone that has been detained, and only if there is reasonable suspicion that they are armed.
And for an arrest, you need “probable cause.”
Definitions:
“Reasonable Suspicion”:
“Requires an officer to have specific and articulable facts that would lead a reasonable person to suspect that an individual is, has been, or is about to be involved in criminal activity.”
“Probable Cause”:
“Requires that an officer has sufficient facts and circumstances to lead a reasonable person to believe that a specific crime was committed and that the individual being arrested committed it.”
“Detainment”:
"A detention is a temporary seizure for the purpose of an investigation. If an officer has a “reasonable suspicion” that the detained person may be armed and dangerous, they are permitted to conduct a search of the persons belongings.
“Arrest”:
"An arrest is a significant deprivation of liberty where a person is taken into official custody to charge them with a crime.
Causing unecessary harm to someone durring arrest/deconversion
“HOS you have to believe me! This unarmed prisioner was punching me so I cut him until he was critted. Crit is not dead so its not even murder or anything”
Raising the alert to get legal privileges when there isnt a threat to justify the alert raise
“John Nanotrasen has a sharpened knife… is he a criminal? Idk lets raise to blue so i can do a random search on him”
Vigilantism
“John Nanotrasen (acting cap/janitor/whatever non security role) just gibbed like an entire family or changelings… uhhh… how??”
Obstruction of Justice - To willingly and intentionally obstruct a law enforcement entity from performing their duties.
Example - Attacking, Stunning or Blinding a security officer while they are arresting someone. (Resisting arrest does not count as obstruction of justice, it has to be done while someone else is being policed)
Which is already often the case when players try to press charges, but that’s a problem that’s outside the scope of this.