After a discussion a while back with Piper we both came to the conclusion that the automatic assumption being caught/charged for a crime results in either citation or more commonly... jail- can and does get a bit boring, old hat, dare I say frustrating(?) for both seasoned criminal RPers and for the officers who feel (very rightly) obliged to interact with cells mates in a situation that can often feel like a 'rinse and repeat' or deva ju scene.
We both realized we liked the idea of alternatives, things that still satisfy the need for consequences for actions and gives victim/witness/police officers a sense of justice served. We both agreed that doing perhaps community service or a period of parole might not only spice things up a bit but gives officers more lee way and choice when dealing with criminals and give a different kind of interaction to the usual 'dumped in cells varying degrees of amount and quality of RP' for days at a time. It might also allow the wider public to be able to interact and see justice being served.
As an example:
Piper Rewell is observed dealing drugs on Bourbon Street. She is arrested and taken to the station for processing, the Sergeant on duty decides the crime, though an oft committed one is not so severe as to warrant jail time and, hell, it's Piper Rewell, classic example of how incarceration doesn't reform! He orders her on a five day community service order, under the supervision of an officer(s) she must spend x amount of time in each of the five days handing out "Just say NO to drugs" leaflets in the area she was caught dealing.
In front of her fellow gang members and with the 'aid' of the HPD she stands on the street and gives out leaflets to passers by. Fun and games follow...
Parole would be similar, an order would be given, banning a character from certain areas or certain activities for a set period of time, reporting to the station at least daily to sign in, maybe tied to a parole officer if CS becomes more active.
These are just basic ideas to try and expand RP and opportunities as well as give people alternatives to the sometimes feeling of simply being dumped in the jail cells for days at a time.
Some caveats I see already:
- It would have to be worked into the current HPD-system alongside/as an alternative to the 'jailed inmates' section:
- and there would have to be a way of marking peoples non-attendance as IC evasion Vs. OOC unavailability
- Serious crimes, (aggravated assault, murder, rape, kidnapping, terrorism, etc...) should be the preserve of jail time
- It would require a minimum degree of active officers willing to work with the system
- OOC Consent - some players may prefer jail time for even petty crimes, it should always be given as an OOC choice when deciding what 'sentence' to give
That's the general bones of the idea, I'd like to know what people think and if the sim admins think this could be something that might work out.
