Crime and Punishment

Law is not a fixed thing in the dozens of worlds of the Empire, but here are some common crimes and punishments for those of various social standings:

THEFT

Crime Punishment
Petty Imprisonment (term varies per planet).

Grand Loss of limb (usually a hand).

Tech Either of the above or possible lobotomy, or invitation to guild membership.

Land Loss of disputed land plus income gained during false ownership.

SMUGGLING

Item Punishment
Banned by local lord Imprisonment.

Banned by church Simple or severe penance (depending on nature of item), possible imprisonment.

Banned by guild Warning, beating, slavery, or death (depends on whose embargo you break and how much you cost the guild).

Banned by Emperor Imprisonment, possible loss of limb.

ASSAULT

Victim Punishment
Noble Monetary fine for nobles (equal to 1/20th victim's income). Simple penance and possible imprisonment for priests. Imprisonment or serfdom for freemen. Death for serfs.

Priest Severe penance and possible monetary fine for nobles (equal to 1/20th assaulter's income). Severe penance and possible indenture for priests. Imprisonment or indenture for freemen. monetary fine for serf's master (who usually doles out severe punishment for serf).

Freeman Monetary fine for nobles (equal to 1/50th victim's income). Simple or severe penance for priests. Imprisonment or monetary fine for freemen. Small monetary fine for serf's master.

Serf Master must bring grievance. Monetary fine for nobles (equal to 1/10th cost of serf). Simple penance for priests. Small monetary fine for freemen. Slavery for serfs (proceeds go to injured serf's master.

RAPE

Victim Punishment
Noble Almost never reported by victim, otherwise death.

Priest Severe penance for nobles. Severe penance or possible defrocking for priests. Imprisonment, severe penance, or indenture for freemen. Death for serfs (unless victim pleads mercy, in which case serf is indentured to victim's sect).

Freeman Monetary fine for those rare nobles who lose such cases (equal to 1/50th raper's income). Severe penance for priests. Imprisonment or monetary fine for freemen. Torture, loss of limb or slavery for serfs.

MURDER

Victim Punishment
Noble Wergild for nobles (equal to victim's income, paid to victim's family). Imprisonment and possible defrocking for priests. Imprisonment, serfdom, or death for freemen. Death following torture for serfs.

Priest Public penance (severe or extreme, depending on victim's rank) and monetary fine for nobles (equal to 1/3rd murder's income, paid to victim's sect). Imprisonment, public penance (extreme) or possible defrocking for priests. Imprisonment, indenture, or death for freemen. Death for serfs (unless victim's superior pleads mercy, in which case serf is indentured to victim's sect).

Freeman Small monetary fine on major house capital worlds to wergild for nobles (equal to 1/3rd victim's income, paid to victim's family) on cosmopolitan worlds. Imprisonment or severe penance for priests, possible defrocking if victim was influential. Imprisonment, monetary fine, or death for freemen. Death for serfs.

Serf Master must bring grievance. Monetary fine for nobles (equal to cost of serf). Public penance for priests. Monetary fine for freemen (paid to serf's master). Death or slavery for serfs (proceeds to serf's master).

LIBEL AND SLANDER

Victim Punishment
Noble Public apology and/or monetary fine for nobles. Public penance for priests. Public apology and/or imprisonment and/or monetary fine for freemen. Slavery for serfs.

Priest Penance for nobles. Penance for priests. Public penance and/or imprisonment or monetary fine for freemen. Indenture to victim's sect for serfs or montary fine imposed on serf's master.

Freeman Nobles and priests are immune from prosecution for insulting freemen (but guildsmembers find other means of restitution). Public apology and/or imprisonment or monetary fine for freemen. Does it really matter what a serf says?

LOAN DEFAULT

Loaner Punishment
Noble Loss of land or property equal in value to amount of loan. If no property, indenture (term varies per planet: usually as many years as it would normally take the defaulter to pay back the loan based on income)

Priest Loss of land or property equal in value to amount of loan. If no property, extreme penance or indenture (term varies per planet: usually as many years as it would normally take the defaulter to pay back the loan based on income)

Guildsmember Loss of land or property equal in value to amount of loan. If no property, indenture for freemen (term varies per planet: usually as many years as it would normally take the defaulter to pay back the loan based on income), or collateral for nobles and priests (in form of extended political favors and immunities from Church laws)

CRIMES AGAINST ESTATES

Crime Punishment
Tax Evasion Monetary fine in addition to owed taxes (only for the influential), imprisonment, or indenture

Removing Land Mark (Proof of ownership) Imprisonment

Trespass Warning (for influential trespassers), monetary fine, or imprisonment

Poaching Recompense for owner's loss and possible banishment

Freeing Serfs Recompense for owner's loss (regardless if serf is recaptured) and possible indenture

Inciting Revolt Death. Potential martyrs are usually imprisoned for life instead

Treason Death or banishment from injured party's fiefs

Republicanism Imprisonment, servere penance, banishment from the Known Worlds, or death

COUNTERFEITING

Type Punishment
Firebird Loss of limb(s) or death

Other Imprisonment

PATENT VIOLATION

  Note: the following crimes are rarely tried in court, but the typical punishments are provided here.

Crime Punishment
High-tech invention Destruction of invention or possible invitation to join the Engineers

Violating crime monopoly Warning, beating, or gangland murder, possible invitation to join Scravers

Scab Beating or death, possible invitation to join Muster

Jumpkey forging Chauki stride (ejected from airlock)

CCG marketing Visit from the Purger, possible monetary fine

MISCELLANEOUS

Crime Punishment
Selling freeman into slavery Restitution equal to twice freeman's lost income during enslavement (these cases rarely reach court)

Blackmail Imprisonment and/or public apology

Forgery Imprisonment, loss of offending limb (hand) in extreme cases

Stowaway Chauki stride (ejected from airlock)

Suspicion of Symbiosis Death

OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

Crime Punishment
Obstructing local law Imprisonment, possible accusation as accomplice to whatever crime was committed

Obstructing the Inquisition Severe penance, possible imprisonment, possible accusation as heretic

Obstructing Imperial law Imprisonment, possible accusation as accomplice to whatever crime was committed, possible service at Stigmata Garrison