Legacy: OURPGSoc Society Game 2006-2007

Law

For the most part, law is dealt with by individual Houses. They each have their own justice systems and police forces, though there are common features. For instance, it is often the case that a person is punished by becoming indentured to the victim of the crime (or the victim's family, should said victim be dead or not have use for their skills). In more extreme circumstances, the criminal is sentenced to a period of labour on an unpleasant Mine world or confinement on a Death world if they have been judged a danger to society. Criminals' families do not suffer other than the dishonour that they must bear. The death sentence is reserved for the most serious crimes, and not used at all on some worlds.

Where these forces would not be capable of handling the matter alone, the United Imperial Constabulary are brought in. The Constabulary are the police force on the handful of planets directly ruled by the Imperial House or its appointees and also investigate crimes when the accused is of sufficient importance to 'influence' proceedings within their House's justice system. The UIC also deal with crimes which cross the jurisiction of different House forces, though in this case they work closely with the House forces and just look to co-ordinate efforts.

When the UIC wish to prosecute a case, it is brought before a body known as the Imperial Magistrate. The Emperor may command the Magistrate to find a person guilty or innocent in extreme circumstances, but he normally leaves it to them to decide a case on its merits. When a case is brought against a Noble, they have recourse to a trial by Duel by ancient right. If the Magistrate deems there to be sufficient evidence to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt, that party is offered representation by the Emperor's Man, the finest Advocate in the Empire, in the Duel.

While awaiting trial, dangerous individuals are confined to the Imperial Prison Planet Sulidae, a harsh deathworld where the chemicals in the air strip the skin off a person in minutes of being exposed. For this reason, all facilites there are underground and a permanent force of the Imperial Elite Guard watch all transports to and from the planet. Individuals sentenced to Exile are destined to live out the rest of their days on a world such as this.

Less dangerous individuals are confined to a Frigate named The Damocles, where the conditions are not so extreme (and infact are often quite luxurious), but the chances of escape just as remote as the Elite Guard are ever present. The Damocles has no Hyperspace Maps and as such is not able to travel between star systems without the aid of a Carrier. See Space travel for more details.