Guide to Space Law
🚧 Work in Progress
This page is currently under active development and may be incomplete or subject to revision.
Last Updated: 2025-11-13
Editor: Sima
Jurisdiction
On Space Station 14, stations operate under abbreviated Space Law. All crew and visitors aboard the station are subject to these laws.
- Crew: Individuals employed by Nanotrasen to maintain and operate the station, including command staff, security forces, and departmental personnel. Individuals without current contracts with Nanotrasen are not crew, and do not enjoy the protections of Space Law unless they are Visitors.
- Visitors: Peaceful non-crew personnel with authorized access, such as traders, diplomats, and approved guests who temporarily board the station or its shuttles. Hostile foreigners and entities are not Visitors, and do not enjoy the protections of Space Law.
The station, shuttles, trade station, arrivals, equipment, materials, and any other entity constructed with materials provided by Nanotrasen or its employees, are the property of Nanotrasen. Central Command (CentCom) is Nanotrasen's organizational structure that has jurisdiction over of the operations of Nanotrasen property and personnel in the Omu Sector.
Private shuttles—those not owned by Nanotrasen—fall outside this jurisdiction. Visitor shuttles are explicitly private, and unwarranted searches constitute Secure Trespass unless:
- A pursued criminal has boarded the shuttle, regardless of permission.
- There is reasonable suspicion that the shuttle’s occupants intend harm against the station or its crew.
- A crime onboard the shuttle has been visibly witnessed or reported.
- A warrant has been authorized.
Prisoner Rights
Individuals who fall under the Jurisdiction of Space Law have the following rights while in detainment:
- Prisoners must be granted adequate medical care.
- Prisoners must be allowed access to basic communications equipment so long as they are not abused.
- Prisoners must be granted clothing, food, water, shelter and safety. If the brig is no longer safe, temporary confinement must be established in another location.
- Prisoners must be given access to legal counsel. If no legal counsel is present, a member of the crew must be appointed to serve in that capacity for the prisoner.
- Prisoners must be given a trial for all Capital Punishments.
- Prisoners must be given their shift mandated PDA after confinement has finished, unless there is proof of PDA tampering. In case of tampering, the PDA is to be secured and replaced with a new unit.
- Prisoners must be granted freedom of movement and should not be restrained with handcuffs or other devices after incarceration unless there is an undue risk to life and limb.
- Prisoners should not be confined to a solitary cell unless they pose a risk to others or the security of their confinement
- Prisoners cannot be executed without a trial unless:
- They repeatedly damage their cell to the point that safe confinement is unreasonable.
- They repeatedly attack and cause serious injury to other prisoners making the safe confinement of other prisoners unreasonable.
- They escape confinement while charged with or awaiting trial for a Capital Punishment.
- They undergo a blood test that proves they are not a member of the Crew or a Visitor.
- They have illegal implants that are unable to be removed.
Implantation Procedures
Prisoners may undergo implantation or implant removal, so long as it's within reason. Implantation must not extend a detainee’s sentence unless explicitly permitted. Former inmates can be required to undergo implantation procedures if the circumstances during their confinement warranted it. Any implant not listed below may still be applied with reasonable justification or voluntary consent.
Implantation
- Tracking Implants: May be applied to prisoners convicted of Major, Extreme, and/or Capital crimes or those charged with or awaiting trial for a Capital Punishment.
- Mind Shields: Administered to prisoners clearly influenced by mind control, exhibiting loss of autonomy, or charged with Rioting, Mutiny, or Rebellion.
- Unlike standard implantation, prisoners may be held until Mind Shields are issued, provided it's done promptly.
- Refusal or failure of the implant may result in charges of Refusal of Mental Shielding.
Implant Removal
Prisoners or suspects may be forced to undergo implant removal if strong, reasonable evidence exists, such as:
- An officer directly witnessing implant use
- A hidden device is the only reasonable explanation for something that takes place, such as an item inexplicably disappearing.
- Discarded injectors containing identifying information.
Unlike implantation, detention for Implant Removal may be extended until removal is completed, provided security is actively attempting the procedure. Voluntary consent allows removal without evidence.
- If an implant is discovered and cannot be removed, it may result in charges of Subversion.
Legal Representation and Trials
See Legal Standard Operating Procedure for more information.
Prisoners have a right to legal representation. Prisoners have a right to a trial for all Capital Punishments unless an exception applies. All other trials are held at the discretion of the Judge. Trial results are final.
Lawyers offer legal assistance to those accused of crimes, or to aid Security in the just application of the law. In the event there is no legal representation for a prisoner, they are required to act on their behalf. Lawyers have no authority over the operations of Security or sentencing and may be trespassed from Security if their actions become disruptive to the operations of the department. Lawyers handle the following:
- Advise and assist Security in the sentencing of prisoners.
- Act as legal consultants to the accused.
The Judge acts as the highest legal authority on the station. The Judge ensures all trials, civil and criminal, are performed according to the Legal Standard Operating Procedures and that any preparations for a safe and efficient trial are carried out. Should the Judge be unavailable, a neutral, impartial member of the crew should be appointed by the Captain to serve in that capacity. To perform their duties, the Judge may:
- Remove, enhance, or otherwise change sentences for prisoners as they see fit.
- Charge individuals with contempt(Failure to Comply) or Perjury during a Trial or during the preparation of a Trial as necessary.
- Expel individuals who disrupt or disgrace the courtroom.
- Nominate individuals to serve as Lawyers for the accused or Prosecutors against the accused if necessary.
- Disqualify or disallow evidence or testimony that is false, misleading, or not germane to the charges alleged.
- Adjust the Legal Standard Operating Procedures due to exigent circumstances.
- Any changes require documentation with clear reasoning be sent to Central Command.
Crime Stacking
"Crime Stacking", or the procedure for charging someone with multiple crimes simultaneously, is required when someone violates multiple Laws. Crime Stacking involves:
- Adding the timers for each crime the accused committed. Only the highest relevant crime in a category code (last two digits) should be used.
- Crimes with the same category code cannot be charged together. e.g: 1-02, 2-02, 3-02 do not stack.
- Otherwise, crimes can be stacked together; the timers are added together for stacking.
For instance, breaking a window to steal something should be charged with 1-04 - Petty Theft, 1-05 - Vandalism, and 1-06 - Trespass. See the Crime Directory for category codes.
Prisoner Escape & Vandalism
Prisoners who escape, attempt to escape, or destroy station property during their confinement face additional punishments:
P-01 - Vandalism: Prisoners destroying station property non-essential to confinement. Examples include:
- Breaking lights and furniture.
- Damaging or destroying equipment in confinement.
P-02 - Attempted Escape: Prisoners attempting to escape confinement. Examples include:
- Breaking or damaging cell windows and walls.
- Attacking an officer inside a cell.
- Conspiring with another party to assist with an escape.
P-03 - Escape: Prisoners leaving or escaping their confinement area without permission from security. Examples include:
- A prisoner leaving or escaping their cell while the timer is running.
- A prisoner escaping custody while being moved.
The punishment for these offenses depends on the status of the Prisoner. The status of the prisoner is always either, Temporary, Permanent, or Isolation.
Temporary: A temporary prisoner is one who has received a sentence that is less than permanent confinement. They may be upgraded to Isolation status due to violations of P-01, P-02, or P-03.
Permanent: A permanent prisoner is one who has received a sentence of permanent confinement or is awaiting trial for Capital Punishment. They may be upgraded to Isolation due to violations of P-01, P-02, or P-03.
Isolation: An isolation prisoner is a temporary or permanent prisoner whose actions have resulted in them being placed in solitary confinement. They will serve out the remainder of their sentence in isolation, at the discretion of Security.
| Prisoner
Status |
0-01
In-Cell Vandalism |
0-02
Attempted Escape |
0-03
Escape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary | Reset Timer | Reset Timer +/- Isolation (Discretionary) | Reset Timer + 10 Minutes + Isolation |
| Permanent | Isolation | Isolation | Re-Detained + Isolation, Executed, or KoS (Discretionary) |
| Isolation | Straightjacket | Straightjacket or Execution (Discretionary) | Re-Detained, Executed, or KoS (Discretionary) |
Crime Register
Minor Crimes
All of these crimes are punishable by a warning or sentence up to 5 minutes at the discretion of Security.
| Code | Image | Crime | Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-01 | Minor Possession | To make, hold, or use restricted equipment or non-lethal illicit substances without a written permit or authorization.
| |
| 1-02 | Minor Contraband | To make, hold, or use minor contraband without authorization. Authorization may only be granted by the Captain or the Head of Security.
| |
| 1-03 | Petty Theft | To take non-vital or inexpensive property of another individual, organization, or common property without consent. Theft of safety or medical equipment such as breath masks, air tanks, or necessary mobility aids are considered vital, and exceed petty theft.
| |
| 1-04 | Vandalism | To intentionally deface or superficially damage property. Examples include graffiti, smashing glasses or windows, excessively littering, and excessively producing spills.
| |
| 1-05 | Trespass | To enter a non-secured area without permission, such as climbing over counters to enter employee areas like the Bar or Kitchen.
| |
| 1-06 | Criminal Harassment | To intentionally and repeatedly cause psychological distress in another. This includes but is not limited to unwanted physical contact, spreading false rumors either directly or indirectly about a crew member, continuous targeted pranks or bullying.
| |
| 1-08 | Disorderly Conduct | To cause a public disturbance. This is the catch-all for excessive obnoxious behavior, and includes public nudity, harassment, inciting crime, and disruption of authorities or communications.
| |
| 1-09 | Impersonation and Fraud | To pretend to be someone you are not or to deliberately use deceit, trickery, or false representation to gain an unfair advantage or to mislead Security.
| |
| 1-10 | Animal Neglect | To inflict unnecessary suffering or harm on a non-sapient being without malicious intent. This does not include legitimate and authorized animal testing, the butchering of livestock for meat, or the removal of vermin, or hostile creatures. |
Moderate Crimes
All of these crimes are punishable by a sentence of 5 to 10 minutes at the discretion of Security.
| Code | Image | Crime | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-02 | Smuggling | To distribute or attempt to distribute non-lethal illicit substances or contraband to one or more individuals.
| |
| 2-03 | Theft | To take, without permission, vital or valuable property of another individual or organization without consent.
| |
| 2-04 | Damage or Destruction of Property | To maliciously damage or deface public or private property or equipment. This includes equipment vendors, drink dispensers, computers, and machinery such as lathes.
| |
| 2-06 | Assault | To assault another without a weapon and without causing serious injury. Serious injury is defined as any life altering injury such as loss of limb, damage to the eyes or ears, or any other damages measured by a Health Analyzer to be exceeding 30 total.
| |
| 2-08 | Aggravated Disorderly Conduct | To intentionally disrupt public order after being warned, during emergencies, or during dangerous situations.
| |
| 2-09 | Bribery | To attempt or succeed to bribe officials to be derelict of their duties or commit a crime with any payment including but not limited to; Services, favors, spesos, credits, materials, or items of any kind. This also applies to anyone caught accepting a bribe and is cumulative with whatever crime they were bribed to commit.
| |
| 2-10 | Animal Cruelty | To inflict unnecessary suffering or harm on a non-sapient being with malicious intent. This does not include legitimate and authorized animal testing, the butchering of livestock for meat, or the removal of vermin, or hostile creatures.
| |
| 2-11 | Unlawful Enforcement | To attempt to unlawfully enforce Space Law without authority to do so, or to use lawful authority to violate Space Law. |
Major Crimes
All of these crimes are punishable by a sentence of 10 to 15 minutes at the discretion of Security.
| Code | Image | Crime | Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-01 | Possession |
To make, possess, or use equipment or items restricted to Security or Command. To make, possess, or use dangerous substances without a written permit or authorization. | |
| 3-02 | Contraband | To make, possess, or use contraband. Contraband may only be used in emergencies, and only to prevent death or gross bodily harm. | |
| 3-03 | Robbery | To steal something with the threat of violence using anything that can be considered a weapon, whether or not the weapon is contraband or not. This can include knives, toolboxes, crowbars, or any number of other improvised weaponry. There must be an active threat of violence, or the implication of violence if the victim does not comply, in order to be considered armed robbery.
| |
| 3-04 | Sabotage |
To tamper with, destroy, or render inoperable station infrastructure such as wiring, walls, and secure doors. | |
| 3-05 | Secure Trespass | To enter a secured area without permission. If the area is behind a locked door, it is secure trespass. This includes telecomms, department head offices, command areas, the vault, and the armory.
| |
| 3-06 | Aggravated Assault | To assault another with a weapon or unarmed assault resulting in serious injury. Serious injury is defined as any life altering injury such as loss of limb, damage to the eyes or ears, or any other damages measured by a Health Analyzer to be exceeding 30 total.
| |
| 3-07 | Reckless Endangerment | To recklessly put yourself or others in danger, either through direct action or failure to act. This includes negligence, accidents, medical malpractice, destruction or impairment of safety features such as firelocks and exterior windows, and reckless piloting of shuttles.
| |
| 3-08 | Rioting | To participate in a large group of personnel creating an unlawful public disturbance.
| |
| 3-09 | Perjury | To intentionally lie under oath or make a false statement in a written document.
| |
| 3-10 | Desecration of a Corpse | To mutilate, disfigure, or otherwise violate an individual's remains. This includes the desecration of graves or burial sites, or the negligence in the reporting or handling of remains.
| |
| 3-11 | Kidnapping | To unlawfully seize, confine, or transport a person through the use of force, threat, or fraud. |
Extreme Crimes
All of these crimes can result in Permanent Confinement.
- Only the Judge, Captain, Head of Security, or Warden can authorize a Permanent Sentence.
- If a prisoner requests an Execution or Cyborgization, they may be given one.
| Code | Image | Crime | Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-02 | Seditious Contraband |
To make, possess, or use dangerous or lethal contraband. Lethal contraband may only be used in extreme emergencies, and only to prevent death or gross bodily harm. | |
| 4-03 | Grand Theft | To take critical or irreplaceable property of another individual or organization without consent. This includes command items such as door remotes, hardsuits, machine parts, and hijacking a department shuttle.
| |
| 4-04 | Mass Sabotage | To cause massive damage to an area or major station system. This includes major destruction or tampering of critical station systems like power, medical, chemistry, substations, and atmospherics.
| |
| 4-06 | Attempted Murder | To make an attempt to end someone’s life, using physical force or otherwise. Proof that action was taken with the intent to kill is necessary, such as a lethal weapon being used.
| |
| 4-07 | Manslaughter | To incidentally kill a sapient being without intent. This includes manslaughter in self-defense and negligent manslaughter.
| |
| 4-08 | Mutiny |
To organize or participate with individuals to defy a command structure, disrupt lawful authority, or station operations. | |
| 4-09 | Forgery | To forge a written document through illicit means, such as rewriting a stamped document or unauthorized use of an official stamp. |
Capital Crimes
All of these crimes can result in Execution, Permanent Confinement, or Forced Cyborgization.
- Only the Judge, Captain, Head of Security, or Warden can authorize a Permanent Sentence.
- Only the Judge or Captain can authorize an Execution or Forced Cyborgization.
- If a prisoner requests an Execution or Cyborgization, they may be given one.
| Code | Image | Crime | Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-05 | Terrorism | To engage in malicious destructive actions which threaten to destroy or successfully destroy a vessel, habitat, or station. This includes extreme sabotage of station systems or setting off the self-destruction systems.
| |
| 5-07 | Murder | To intentionally and unlawfully kill a sapient being. If the victim must be revived, it is murder and not attempted murder. This includes unlawful executions.
| |
| 5-09 | Rebellion |
To overthrow, or attempt to overthrow, Nanotrasen control of the station. | |
| 5-10 | Subversion | To use permanent, unauthorized implants that risk the safety of the station or crew or subvert the authority of Nanotrasen; or to falsely act as the Captain or Nanotrasen officials on the station.
| |
| 5-11 | Destruction of a Corpse | To destroy, consume, space, or otherwise permanently remove an individual's remains.
| |
| 5-13 | Unlawful Execution | To unlawfully execute an individual without authorization or outside of Standard Operating Procedure. This law is distinct from murder and applies primarily to Security and Command. |
Modifier Register
| Situation | Description | Notes | Modifier
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiding and Abetting | To intentionally assist a criminal. | An individual found knowingly and intentionally helping a criminal should receive the same sentence as the criminal. Even if the criminal's charges are dismissed or they receive no charges, a five minute minimum sentence should be applied. Some examples of this include interfering with an arrest, breaking a prisoner out of confinement, providing tools or medical aid. | The original criminal's sentence; 5 minute minimum
|
| Mind Control | To be forcibly placed under the control of a hostile influence. | When reasonable, mind controlled individuals should be detained and immediately liberated from the hostile influence. All contraband and restricted equipment should be seized and the liberated individual should be pardoned for their crimes. | Deconversion & Release
|
| Central Command Order | To have Central Command order a punishment or change of punishment for an individual. | Central Command may order any punishment, change in punishment, or removal of punishment as they see fit. They may waive, alter, or remove elements, sections, or the entirety of Space Law as necessary. An order from Central Command should be carried out immediately. | Immediate Application of Modification
|
| Cooperation | To aid the efforts of Security during an investigation. | Individuals may cooperate with Security during an investigation by providing information that furthers the investigation. The information must be truthful and useful to Security. Information and statements found to be untruthful can result in Refusal to Cooperate. | 50% Reduction to sentence
|
| Medical Attention | To transport a prisoner for medical treatment. | Prisoners are entitled to adequate medical care. Prisoners harming themselves repeatedly may receive aid at the discretion of Security. Prisoners attempting to commit suicide should be stopped, when possible, but Security has no obligation to revive an individual who commits suicide. | Continue timer during treatment
|
| Parole | To be conditionally released from custody. | Several requirements must be met in order for parole to be granted.
See: Legal SOP, Parole Section |
Release with timer continuing
|
| Refusal to Cooperate | To impede the efforts of Security during processing. | While already detained inside the brig and awaiting a sentence, acting in a manner which makes security waste time processing you. Fleeing from processing also counts as refusal to cooperate. | 50% Addition to sentence
|
| Repeat Offender | To be commit the same crime multiple times. | Offenses must not be committed as part of one crime spree, and must be separate repeat offenses. Upon the second sentencing for the same crime, ten minutes is to be added. An additional ten minutes is to be added for every successive imprisonment. After two applications of this modifier (on their fourth same-crime offense), the perpetrator is to be permabrigged. | Add 10 Minutes to Sentence. Permanent Confinement on 4th repeat offense.
|
| Resisting Arrest | To resist a lawful arrest. | Non-combative action such as fleeing, blocking access, or slipping is considered resisting. Minor combative actions, such as repeated shoving or disarming, should be charged as 1-02 - Battery in addition to this modifier. Resisting Arrest can be applied independent of other offenses: even if no crime was committed, the modifier still applies. | +5 Minutes to Sentence
|
| Self Defence | To take action to defend yourself, or to take action to defend others inside of your work area. | Persons intentionally getting involved in fights which occur in a department that isn't theirs is an act of vigilantism, not self-defence. Self-defence typically involves attempts to disarm or disengage, beating someone while they're down should be considered Assault unless the defender's life was in danger. | Immediate Release
|
| Surrender | To surrender to Security willfully. | To turn yourself into Security and accept the consequences of your actions. Throwing your hands in the air once you've been caught by Security is not turning yourself in. | 50% Reduction to sentence
|
| Threat to Prisoner | To relocate or release a prisoner due to imminent threat to life. | Security should ensure prisoners aren't left to perish due to known threats to the station. They should take actions to immediately move them to a safe location or release them to fend for themselves if the situation demands it. Some examples of this are a tesla or singularity loose on the station that threatens the prisoners safe confinement, hostile entities overwhelming the station, lethal gasses likely to kill the prisoners. | Immediate Release/Relocation |