Marine Law
Verbiage
- The Commanding Officer is an officer appointed by High Command and detailed to command a vessel, facility, or unit. Their status and powers are therefore not transferable down the chain of command.
- The Commander is the officer in command and who has possibly succeeded to command. Their status and powers are transferable down the chain of command.
- Military Police are all appointed and deputised personnel detailed to enforce Marine Law.
- High Command is the entity composed of several headquarters units, such as the Provost Office and different battalion, regiment, and division commands, responsible for issuing orders and directives to the Commanding Officer.
Application
Marine Law shall apply to all persons, military and civilian, present in an area of operations or within the confines of a vessel or facility of the United States Colonial Marine Corps. Military Police shall be its sole enforcers and make all necessary arrests for breaches of Marine Law resulting in the commission of a crime. They may choose to or be ordered to ignore a minor crime, unless instructed to punish one. Military Police may arrest from their own volition only personnel lower than them in the judicial command structure. They shall operate independently from the regular command structure only in matters related to Marine Law. The Chief of Military Police shall be the highest law enforcement professional, above even the Commander and second only to the Commanding Officer who shall retain the final say on the judicial affairs of their unit and area of operations, unless overseen by higher officials from High Command. Officers, enlisted persons, and civilians in the employ of the United States Colonial Marine Corps shall remain at all times subject to Marine Law, regardless of their location.
Punitive Articles
Capital Crimes
| Charge | Description | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Jailbreak or Escape | To escape, assist in an escape, attempt escape, or be willfully and knowingly broken out from your cell.
|
Permanent Confinement & Relief of Duty or Execution & ID Termination |
| Murder or Unauthorized Execution | ||
| Sedition | ||
| Desertion | ||
| Crimes against Humanity |
Lawbreaking Military Police
Military Police violating Marine Law is a serious offense and carries serious consequences. Military Police doing so shall be charged with Neglect of Duty as an additional crime and be removed from service as law enforcement, provided their appeal or request for pardon to be denied. Demotion for committing a Minor Crime shall be subject to the wishes of the Commanding Officer, Chief of Military Police or the Commander in their absence and in that order.
Unlawful Orders
Personnel are required to follow all orders and directives from their superiors, but shall not obey those that would come into conflict with Marine Law. Personnel refusing such illegal orders shall state in what manner they believe they would violate Marine Law when carried out. Issuing unlawful orders shall be punished in the same manner as crimes that would result from carrying them out. Orders meant as punishment that would cause personnel to neglect their duties, such as running laps or performing general janitorial duty, shall also be unlawful unless applied as non-judicial punishments.
Officer Ordered Arrests
Arrests ordered by an officer for the commission of a crime shall be carried out by Military Police. Such officer shall clearly communicate and explicitly request the arrest of the suspect for it to proceed. The arrest order may be rescinded by the officer having ordered the arrest up until detainment of the suspect. The officer may not order the arrest of an officer superior to them in position, or rank unless the officer ordering the arrest is the Commander. The person subject of the arrest order may be held for ten minutes after reaching the brig to gather evidence, in case of doubts as to the veracity of the allegations. Absence of evidence shall not exculpate. Exonerating evidence that demonstrates ill intent from the officer having ordered the arrest shall be sufficent to charge such officer with Prevarication. Only the Commander and Chief of Military Police may order arrests on Military Police and only the Commander may order the Chief of Military Police to be arrested.
Capital Crimes
| Charge | Description | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Jailbreak/Escape | To escape, assist in an escape, attempt escape, or be willfully and knowingly broken out from your cell.
|
Permanent Confinement & Demotion or Execution & ID Termination |
| Attempted Murder | Attempting to murder a person but failing to do so. If the evidence shows that the arrested person was clearly trying to kill someone with ill intent but failed in the action itself. | Permanent Confinement & Demotion or Execution & ID Termination |
| Murder or Unauthorized Execution | Killing someone with malicious intent. This includes Synthetic units. The charge applies even if the victim is later revived. Executions are only authorized as outlined in the Execution Procedure. | Permanent Confinement & Demotion or Execution & ID Termination |
| Sedition | To engage in actions or refuse to follow orders as to overthrow or usurp the legitimate command structure.
|
Permanent Confinement & Demotion or Execution & ID Termination |
| Desertion | Refusing to carry out the duties essential to one’s post or abandoning post unauthorized, without intent to return. (Retreating from the planet when the FOB is breached is not Desertion, refusing to return when ordered is). | Permanent Confinement & Demotion or Execution & ID Termination |
| Crimes against Humanity | To engage in actions that violate human rights or otherwise are heinous acts against humans. Examples are torture, cannibalism and forced infection with Xenomorph larva. | Permanent Confinement & Demotion or Execution & ID Termination |
Vicarious Prosecution
Victims of crimes, excluding Capital Crimes and crimes resulting in grevious bodily harm, shall retain the right to have charges dropped and request Military Police to release the perpetrator. Carrying out an arrest after the victim dropped charges constitutes prevarication.
Lethal Force
The Commander or Chief of Military Police may authorise the use of lethal force during emergencies such as boardings and mutinies, or against suspects who have used lethal force against personnel. Military Police without non-lethal weaponry may use lethal force against suspects who have proven dangerous to the unit. The suspect shall only be engaged with lethal weaponry until they can no longer present any danger. Military Police may use lethal force from the beginning against targets resistant to non-lethal weaponry such as rogue synthetics. Military Police may use lethal weaponry when necessary without authorisation, provided the Commander or Chief of Military Police do not respond to hails in a timely fashion.
Demotions
Carrying out demotions as punishment for the commission of crimes shall require permission from the head of the department the perpetrator belongs to, or permission from the Commander in case of the demotion of a head of department. Demoted personnel shall move to a more junior position within their department, or be reassigned as rifleman if no such position exists. Riflemen punished by demotion shall be discharged from the United States Colonial Marine Corps and be afforded the same status and access as civilian guests. Demoted civilians whose department possesses no more junior position shall be fired from the United States Colonial Marine Corps and be afforded the same status and access as civilian guests. Demoted Military Police may be placed in another department, provided they possess the relevant skills and permission from the relevant head of department, or be reassigned as riflemen if unfeasible.
Special Provisions
Insanity
Insanity is defined as an unsoundness of mind or lack of ability to understand that prevents someone from having the mental capacity to perform their duties. Only the highest ranking medical officer, synthetics, or another medical officer in their absence and in that order may declare someone insane, and they may not be ordered to do so against their diagnosis.
Self-Defense
A person using force on others to defend themselves or others from illegal use of force shall not be charged, as long as they defend themselves with proportional force. Fists shall be used against fists, melee weapons against melee weapons, and firearms against firearms for example. The victim shall only defend with lethal force until the attacker is unable to carry on their assault. The victim shall notify Military Police of their use of force in self-defense at the earliest opportunity, and prioritise attempting to disengage to avoid using force beforehand if able.
Medical Experiments
An individual may waive their rights in order to participate in an authorised medical experiment. Personnel conducting the research shall not be charged for harm inflicted on the subject, provided such harm was the result of approved parameters of the experiment. Personnel in the employ of the United States Colonial Marine Corps may be ordered not to participate in such experimentation if it would cause them to neglect their duties. The time of a prisoner spent as test subject shall count as time served for their sentence. A prisoner whose sentence reached completion while involved in a medical experiment shall be free to leave such experiment. Personnel may not conduct medical experiments that would result in the certain death of the subjects, unless the subjects are prisoners whose sentence is execution.
Emergency Prisoner Release
The Commander or Chief of Military Police may during emergency scenarios such as significant boarding actions or a compromised brig, release prisoners if there is reason to believe that they will not be a threat or hindrance during the course of the emergency, particularly so if the prisoners displayed good behavior. Such release shall not take place if the Commander or Chief of Military Police object to it, with the word of the Commanding Officer being final. Prisoners whose release have been denied shall be escorted by Military Police to a safe location, in accordance with orders from the command structure.
Synthetic Provisions
Marine Synthetics
Synthetics in service of the United States Colonial Marine Corps are coded to fully understand and adhere to Marine Law. They may therefore not be arrested without authorisation from High Command. Synthetics that violate Marine Law shall be reported to High Command. For all other judicial matters, Synthetics shall be granted the same protections as any other person would under Marine Law.
Allied Synthetics
Several agencies, corporations, and colonies from or allied with the United Americas make use of Synthetics. These Synthetics shall be granted similar protections as their counterparts from the United States Colonial Marine Corps, with the exception that their arrest may be ordered solely by the Commander or Chief of Military Police without authorisation from High Command. Synthetics that violate Marine Law or that act subversive to the United States Colonial Marine Corps, such as by taking highly valuable supplies without request or deconstructing defenses, may be declared rogue by the Commander or Chief of Military Police and disabled with all necessary force. Such Synthetics shall be given the chance to stand down, be repaired and ressurected in a secure location to serve their sentence, and be released after its completion.
Commanding Officer Provisions
Arrest Immunity
The Commanding Officer is not above Marine Law but may not be arrested for crimes committed without authorisation from High Command. Contact shall be made with High Command in case of criminal conduct or abuse of powers from the Commanding Officer. The right to contact High Command for this purpose may not be denied. Military Police shall present a written warrant from High Command to the Commanding Officer for the arrest to be valid, unless the arrest order was made known directly to the Commanding Officer by High Command. Attempting to illegally arrest the Commanding Officer constitutes sedition.
Execution Privileges
The Commanding Officer may perform battlefield executions. They may summarily execute anyone under their authority, in their vessel, facility or area of operations unless the person is in Military Police custody. The individual to be executed shall be guilty of a capital crime or represent one of the following :
- A threat to the command, by credibly threatening or attempting to undermine, usurp, override or overthrow the command.
- A threat to persons, by credibly threatening or attempting to harm the Commanding Officer, or someone else in the presence of the Commanding Officer.
- A threat to the vessel, facility, unit, or mission, by credibly threatening or attempting to do them damage.
Such executions shall be performed in person by the Commanding Officer with their assigned sidearm, or a different weapon if necessary, in a way to avoid collateral damage and risks to innocent parties. They may therefore not be conducted through the use of heavy explosive ordnance or irregular weaponry. An announcement shall be made by the Commanding Officer at the earliest opportunity and within a reasonable timeframe, indicating the position, rank and name of the person executed and explaining the reason for the battlefield execution.
Detainment Privileges
The Commanding Officer may order discretionary arrests. They may summarily order to be detained for any reason and duration anyone under their authority, in their vessel, facility or area of operations. Such discretionary arrests shall be ordered by the Commanding Officer to incarcerate individuals who have not committed any crime but proved a risk to operational security, or to extend the sentence of individuals whose actions warrant harsher punishment than Marine Law accounted for. Discretionary arrests may only be appealed to High Command. Only the Commanding Officer may otherwise order the release of prisoners under discretionary detainment. The Commander or Chief of Military Police may also order such release to take place in cases where the Commanding Officer would be permanently unable to do so, due to fatal injuries or cryosleep, with the word of the Chief of Military Police being final. The Commanding Officer may not be charged with Prevarication after ordering the release of prisoners under discretionary detainment.
Pardons
The Commanding Officer may exceptionally and individually pardon criminals if they believe it to be in the best interests of the mission. Perpetrators charged with Minor Crimes and Major Crimes may be pardoned while those charged with Capital Crimes may not, except in special circumstances with authorisation from High Command. The Commanding Officer shall do his best to investigate and take knowledge of the crimes and the interval in which they were commited before issuing a pardon. An announcement shall be made by the Commanding Officer indicating the position, rank and name of the person being pardoned as well as the crimes being pardoned and the reason for issuing the pardon. Such announcement may be made after issuing the pardon and release order, and the Commanding Officer shall not need to be there for the release itself. The Commanding Officer shall take responsability for the conduct of the perpetrator after release and may be held accountable for further criminal actions committed by those they pardoned. Military Police may request the arrest of the Commanding Officer to High Command in such cases.
Arrest Cancellations
The Commanding Officer may invoke their pardoning authority to cancel the arrest of a person before they are placed in the brig and processed. This shall follow the same procedure as pardons. Arrest cancellations may not be used on perpetrators in the process of committing a crime, or already processed and confined. Arrest orders from High Command may not be affected through these procedures.
Demotions
The Commanding Officer may demote from their rank or position, relieve from duty, and discharge or fire from the United States Colonial Marine Corps, any officer, enlisted person, or civilian under their authority and in their employ. The Commanding Officer may take such actions without necessarily ordering the arrest of the individual, or as additional punishment or measure to an arrest. The severity of the actions shall fit the gravity of the circumstances. Such demotions in position shall follow the same procedure than demotions as punishment for crimes committed. Officers and enlisted persons relieved from duty shall be allowed to retain their rank, and officers may have their right to carry sidearms revoked.
General Article
The Commanding Officer may find the behavior of an officer or enlisted person to be inappropriate, contrary to good order and deserving of punishment even if they have not committed a crime. This may be comporting themselves in an unprofessional manner, failing to complete a task satisfactorily or failing to uphold standards of good order. The Commanding Officer may then issue a non-judicial punishment to the individual in question.
Standard Operating Procedure
The Commanding Officer may alter any aspect of the Standard Operating Procedure of their own command, unless indicated otherwise, as long as these alterations do not conflict with Marine Law. Alterations to Standard Operating Procedure shall not be done to the extent of griefing others, but instead with regards for the burden they would impose on others. Military Police shall be informed of alterations to Standard Operating Procedure through announcements before their implementation.
Guest Commanding Officers
The Commanding Officer will occasionally receive in their unit or area of operations equally or higher ranked officers possibly with a command of their own. The arrival of such officers shall not alter the chains of command and succession or the absolute power of the Commanding Officer over their command. Such Guest Commanding Officers shall be afforded all powers covered under Commanding Officer Provisions with a few exceptions :
- Guest Commanding Officers may only battlefield execute individuals that are under the command of the Commanding Officer or other Guest Commanding Officers if they represent a threat to persons. Guest Commanding Officers may otherwise execute persons attached to their own command as outlined in Execution Privileges.
- High Command is the entity composed of several headquarters units, such as the Provost Office and different battalion, regiment, and division commands, responsible for issuing orders and directives to the Commanding Officer.
Visiting Officers may however not
Additional Definitions
- Announcements are messages broadcasted through the public address system of a vessel, facility, or unit, and audible to all personnel of the command.
- An area of operations is defined as an area outside of a vessel or facility of the United States Colonial Marine Corps where its forces conduct combat and non-combat activities to accomplish tasks and missions. It can be extended by the Commander in accordance with strategic needs.