Criminal Code of the Federation of Ascenia/Complete text

The Criminal Code of the Federation of Ascenia (often referred to as the Code) is the supreme statute of criminal law of the Federation of Ascenia that defines criminal offenses under federal law (criminal behavior that is punishable in all 31 provinces, as well as offenses that take place across provincial lines). The Code was first enacted on January 9, 2110, alongside the formation of the Citadel Congress. In its 190 year history, it has been amended well over 100 times.

The Code is comprised of articles and, being a document for purely legislative purposes, is permanently released to the public domain. As its revisions are often used by judicial bodies when conducting decisions, the complete text of every revision of the Code is available on the Federation's website, and the entire collection of revisions is also available for download.

A complete text of the Code is available below.

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Complete text of the Criminal Code
FOR PUBLIC USE AND DISTRIBUTION     EDITION CXC

THE CRIMINAL CODE OF THE FEDERATION OF ASCENIA FOR THE FEDERATION OF ASCENIA

Updated in this TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND Session of the Citadel Congress

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ARTICLE 1. Definitions of felonies and misdemeanours 1. A defendant is guilty of committing a misdemeanour if they perpetrate or act as an accessory to a crime with any of the following conditions: (i) The crime carries a maximum imprisonment term of nine months or less; (ii) The crime carries a fine of 100,000 credit(s) or less. 2. A defendant is guilty of committing a felony if they perpetrate or act as an accessory to a crime with any of the following conditions: (i) The crime carries a maximum imprisonment term of greater than nine months. (ii) The crime carries a fine of between 100,000 to 250,000 credit(s), or carries a fine greater than 250,000 credit(s), or both.

ARTICLE 2. Classes of felonies and imprisonment of offenders 1. An offense shall be referred to under the following classes, if such class was not referred to by name: (i) An offense with a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment shall be referred to as a Class Z felony if it was not referred to by name. (ii) An offense with a statutory penalty between fifteen and fifty years shall be referred to as a Class X felony if it was not referred to by name. (iii) An offense with a statutory penalty between ten and fifteen years shall be referred to as a Class D felony if it was not referred to by name. (iv) An offense with a statutory penalty of between one and ten years shall be referred to as a Class G felony if it was not referred to by name. 2. The term "statutory penalty" shall be construed to mean the maximum penalty of imprisonment against a defendant convicted of such offense. 3. Mandatory life imprisonment shall be imposed on any defendant who: has been convicted of three or more violent felonies as defined under Article 2B.

ARTICLE 2B. Violent felonies 1. A felony shall be considered violent if it:

ARTICLE 2C. Life imprisonment of offenders convicted of crimes against children 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a defendant convicted of an offense that is a serious violent felony (as defined under Article 2(B)) shall be sentenced to life imprisonment if the following circumstances apply to the offense: (i) The victim of the offense was a minor, and (ii) The victim of the offense had not yet reached the age of thirteen years, and (iii) The offense directly resulted in the death of the victim.

ARTICLE 2D. Definition of minors, children, juvenile offenders, and violent juvenile offenders 1. A person shall be considered a minor if they have not yet attained the age of eighteen years. 2. A person shall be considered a juvenile offender if they, being a minor, commit a crime, whether the offense be a misdemeanor or a felony. (i) A person shall be considered a violent juvenile offender if they, being a juvenile offender, commit a violent felony as defined under Article 2(B). 3. A person shall be considered a child if they are between the ages of one and thirteen. This definition of child does not supersede the definition listed under paragraph 1 of this Article.

ARTICLE 3. Direct offenders to an offense 1. A person who commits an offense against the Federation of Ascenia ("Federation") or aids, abets, conspires, requests, or otherwise obtains a committed offense against the Federation shall be punishable as a direct offender. 2. A person who willfully allows or causes an offense that would be construed as an offense against the Federation if done by themselves shall be punishable as a direct offender.

ARTICLE 4. Accessories to an offense 1. A person who, knowing that a crime was committed by a direct offender, aids, abets, conceals, or otherwise assists the offender in order to prevent the offender's seizure, prosecution, trial, or further legal consequences shall be considered an accessory to an offense. 2. An accessory to an offense shall be punished: (i) By a term of imprisonment to not exceed half of the direct offender's term, if the direct offender's behavior was punishable by imprisonment; (ii) By a fine to not exceed half of the direct offender's fine, if the direct offender's behavior was punishable by a fine; (iii) By both penalties described under (i) and (ii), if the direct offender's behavior was punishable by imprisonment and a fine, respectively. 3. Where the maximum penalty of the direct offender is life imprisonment, the accessory may be punished by a maximum of fifteen years of imprisonment.

ARTICLE 5. Concealment of a felony 1. A person who knowingly possesses information of an offense committed against the Federation and fails to report the offense to a law enforcement agency, magistrate, judge, or any other legal agency shall be punished as follows: (i) A fine of not more than 1,000 credit(s); (ii) A period of imprisonment to not exceed one year; (iii) Both penalties as described above.

ARTICLE 6. Definition of the "Federation" 1. The term "Federation", when used throughout this Code, refers to all planets, areas of space, wormholes, stars, space objects, galactic objects, astronomical phenomena, or territory under the jurisdiction of the Federation of Ascenia.

ARTICLE 7. Definition of "Federal agency" Complete this later.

ARTICLES 8 - 20 Definitions of other things. Complete this later.

ARTICLE 21. Defense of insanity 1. Where a defendant is being prosecuted under any Federal law (as defined in this Code), it shall be an affirmative defense if the defendant shows that they were unable to understand the wrongfulness of their acts. 2. Where the defendant wishes to demonstrate a defense of insanity, the burden of proof shall rest with the defendant.

ARTICLE 22. Use of minors in the commission of violent offenses 1. A person who, being over the age of 18: (i) Uses a minor (as defined under Article 2(D)) to commit a violent offense where such an offense is so prosecutable; (ii) Uses a minor in order to assist the concealment, evasion, or prevent the detection of such an offense; 2. Shall be subject to the following punishment upon first conviction: (i) Receive a term of imprisonment and a fine twice that of the offense. 3. Shall be subject to the following punishment upon any subsequent convictions: (ii) Receive a term of imprisonment and a fine thrice that of the offense.

ARTICLE 23. Unlawful destruction of spacecraft 1. A person who: (i) Willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a spacecraft to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation, (a) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species; (ii) interferes, disrupts, obstructs, or otherwise negatively influences the navigation of a spacecraft in transit in such a way that such interference would cause extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk,

ARTICLE 24. Unlawful destruction of civilian spacecraft facilties 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a civilian spacecraft facility to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation: (i) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species;

ARTICLE 25. Unlawful destruction of orbital facilities 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes an orbital facility to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation: (i) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species;

ARTICLE 26. Unlawful destruction of military spacecraft 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a military spacecraft to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation: (i) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species;

ARTICLE 27. Unlawful destruction of law enforcement spacecraft 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a law enforcement spacecraft to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation

ARTICLE 28. Unlawful destruction of diplomatic spacecraft 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a diplomatic spacecraft to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation: (i) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species;

ARTICLE 29. Unlawful destruction of passenger spacecraft 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a passenger spacecraft to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation: (i) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species;

ARTICLE 30. Unlawful destruction of registered trading spacecraft 1. A person who willfully destroys, detonates, incinerates, disables beyond repair, or causes a trading spacecraft to be destroyed while under the jurisdiction of the Federation: (i) With the full knowledge that doing so would result in extreme, unacceptable, or otherwise potentially fatal risk to the life of another member of a sentient species;

ARTICLE 32. Penalty for violations resulting in death or grievous bodily harm 1. This rule shall apply to any person who commits any offense in violation of Articles 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. 2. A person who commits any offense in violation of the rule mentioned in paragraph 1, where the offense results in the death of another person, shall, if convicted, receive a term of imprisonment for life. 3. A person, who commits any offense in violation of the rule mentioned in paragraph 1, where the offense results in the grievous bodily harm of another person, shall, if convicted, receive a term of imprisonment to not exceed half of the proscribed term of imprisonment for that offense.

ARTICLE 33. Giving false information to a Federal agency or agent 1. The term "Federal agency" shall possess the definition hereby defined in Article 7. 2. The term "Federal agent" shall possess the definition hereby defined in Article 7B. 3. A person who gives false information to a Federal agency with full knowledge that doing so would obstruct or significantly impact the administration of justice, hinder the prosecution or conviction of a defendant, or otherwise tamper with judicial proceedings, shall, if convicted, receive a term of imprisonment to not exceed two years. 4. Nothing expressed in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this Article shall deny or otherwise prevent the defendant from being subject to a prosecution of perjury as defined under Article.

ARTICLE 34. Arson 1. A person who, within the jurisdiction of the Federation (where said jurisdiction is defined under Article 6) unlawfully and maliciously sets fire to any spacecraft, spacecraft facility, habitation, building, inhabited area, sentient species dwelling, or otherwise sets fire to an area in which such fire would cause unacceptable or reckless risk to human life, shall, if convicted, receive a term of imprisonment to not exceed twenty years. 2. If, during the course of the offense, the life of a human or sentient species is endangered or placed in a scenario of potentially unacceptable or risky harm, the person, if convicted, shall receive a term of imprisonment for life.

ARTICLE 35. Assault

ARTICLE 36. Aggravating and mitigating factors for assault

ARTICLE 37. Grievous bodily harm

ARTICLE 38. Aggravating and mitigating factors for grievous bodily harm

ARTICLE 39. Grievous bodily harm resulting in death

ARTICLE 40. Aggravating and mitigating factors for grievous bodily harm resulting in death

ARTICLE 41. Homicide

ARTICLE 42. Aggravating and mitigating factors for homicide

ARTICLE 43. Rape 1. A person who inserts, however slightly, a bodily organ or object into another person's bodily organs, orifices, mouth, or other part of the body

ARTICLE 43B. Rape of a minor

ARTICLE 44. Aggravating and mitigating factors for rape

ARTICLE 45. Sexual assault

ARTICLE 45B. Sexual assault of a minor

ARTICLE 46. Murder

ARTICLE 47. Murder of a Federal official or member of government

ARTICLE 48. Murder of a judicial official

ARTICLE 49. Torture

ARTICLE 50. Definitions of sexual offenses

ARTICLE 51. Forced prostitution

ARTICLE 52. Forced prostitution of a minor

ARTICLE 53. Sexual exploitation of a minor

ARTICLE 54. Definitions of child sexual abuse material 1. For the purposes of Articles 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, and 55, the term "minor" carries the definition under Article 2D(1). 2. For the purposes of Articles 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, and 55, the term "sexually explicit content" means actual or simulated sexual intercourse, bestiality, masturbation, sadistic or masochistic abuse, or the exposure of the genitals or pubic areas of any person. 3. For the purposes of Articles 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, and 55, the term "child sexual abuse material" hereby means any photograph, video, hologram, film, display, image, or other visuals of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct as defined under paragraph 2. 4. The definitions of paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 do not apply to visuals that are drawings, cartoons, sculptures, artistic works, literary works, works of text, or paintings depicting fictional minors or adults.

ARTICLE 54A. Possession, distribution, and solicitation of child sexual abuse material 1. A person who knowingly accesses or possesses but does not distribute or solicit any child sexual abuse material shall be punished by a sentence of not less than four but not more than eight years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 150,000 credit(s), or both. 2. A person who knowingly distributes child sexual abuse material to any other person, or provides such material to a minor, shall be punished by a sentence of not less than five but not more than eight years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 150,000 credit(s), or both. 3. A person who knowingly requests, solicits, demands, or otherwise procures child sexual abuse material shall be punished by a sentence of not less than five but not more than eight years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 150,000 credit(s), or both. 4. A person who has possessed or otherwise accessed less than five images of child sexual abuse material and promptly reported such material to a law enforcement agency, without allowing any other person to access such material reported the incident to law enforcement, and destroyed or otherwise attempted to destroy such material, shall bear no responsibility if such a defense is demonstrated by the person.

ARTICLE 54B. Production of child sexual abuse material 1. A person who knowingly produces child sexual abuse material without the intention of selling, transacting, or otherwise procuring monetary gain from it shall be punished by a sentence of not less than five but not more than eight years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 150,000 credit(s), or both.

ARTICLE 54C. Production of child sexual abuse material for monetary gain 1. A person who knowingly produces child sexual abuse material with the intention of selling, transacting, or otherwise procuring monetary gain from it shall be punished by a sentence of not less than ten but not more than fifteen years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 250,000 credit(s), or both.

ARTICLE 54D. Punishment for repeat offenders of child sexual abuse material violations 1. A person who commits an offense under Article 54A(1) or Article 54A(2), having been previously convicted of such an offense, shall, upon subsequent conviction, be punished by a sentence of not less than eight but not more than twelve years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 200,000 credit(s), or both. 2. A person who commits an offense under Article 54A(3), having been previously convicted of such an offense, shall, upon subsequent conviction, be punished by a sentence of no less than twelve but not more than fifteen years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 250,000 credit(s), or both. 3. A person who receives a third conviction on any offense under Article 54A(1), (2), or (3) shall be punished by a sentence of no less than fifteen but not more than twenty years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 250,000 credit(s), or both. 4. A person who commits an offense under Article 54C(1), having been previously convicted of such an offense, shall, upon subsequent conviction, be punished by a sentence of no less than twenty but not more than thirty years of imprisonment, a fine of not more than 250,000 credit(s), or both.

ARTICLE 55. Punishment for repeat offenders of sexual offenses

ARTICLE 55B. Penalty for sexual offenses resulting in death or grievous bodily harm 1. A person who, during the act of committing any offense described under Article 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, or 49, murders another human being or member of a sentient species or causes grievous bodily harm to said being shall be punished by a term of imprisonment for life.