OOC Plotting Post - Ideas for the Justice System

[shirhan-blade.livejournal.com]

So - considering that we do have a handful of characters already invested in this, and it has been a running plot:

Sometime week after Valentines, we're going to have the big log post for the IC meeting of the Manor, for people to have input on what kind of attempt at a "legal system/order" is going to get established.

So, well ahead of time, I'm throwing up this post. We'll try to have a time or two when there can be a chat in the AIM room for it - Sometime on Fri/Sat possibly? But since we have a lot of people in different time zones and with incompatible work schedules, and we do want to make sure everyone gets input, this is up for collecting ideas to hash details out on, and will be going up well in advance of things happening IC'ly.

So! Any ideas you have OOC'ly, and any ideas for plotting the IC events to build it, go here!

Comments

[junior-cop.livejournal.com]

I propose a poker game to see who the ruling class would be. (Just kidding.)

Actually, since the Manor has a relatively good mix of good/bad, kids/adults, alien/human, superpowered/normal and women/men, it's going to be real hard to come up with something complex so the proposition should be relatively simple.

The live and let live mentalities that some have here do have merit, it's getting everyone on the same page that's going to be difficult. With 6 new people in the manor now, they may get confused.

I really do think that once the "laws" or House Rules are in place, it should be written down somewhere and distributed along with the Welcome Packets which means more paperwork for Gene but he likes keeping busy. I think a Layman's Law should be put out so everyone can understand it.

[finalarbiter.livejournal.com]

The justice system the way I see it, should be a committee of people collaborating with one another on specific tasks with no one particular person in charge. People would be assigned to specific tasks based on their expertise, so for example Mikami and Apollo would head the court system, Tom would handle the policing, overly huge detective crowd could handle cases that do pop up, and so on and so forth. There would be reports generated from each office to keep the community updated on the going ons. As for deciding the actual rules and conduct, I think what would be best is if there was an open meeting in which all the Manorites would attend and pool their suggestions and come up with a communally accepted constitution of sorts.

Now, I also think that there should be a person who acts as a liaison between the Manorites and the Author, to keep this system in check. That person could either be elected by the Manorites every say, half a year or we could have a list of people who sign up for the position and rotate through them every month. Basically the role of this person is to keep the Author updated, negotiate any changes that might need implementing as the justice system is tweaked. They are a reporter, not necessarily a leader.

Now why do I say one person? Because hey, it could be a very interesting plot twist if say the person elected was morally corrupt or very underhanded. Potential evil plot ahoy b/c hey, those are fun.

[shirhan-blade.livejournal.com]

(...Yes, this is Birdy, on my semi-mythical OOC journal that I've neglected.)

OOC'ly: First off, it's going to have to come pretty organically out of IC events, or it won't make any sense and will end up with a lot of IC resentment at "where is this what did it come from why am I expected to put up with it". No surprises sprung on anyone. It also just plain won't logically work if it's anything too strict or with too much attempt at control, and Author Meddling is probably a good idea for making sure punishments don't end up making someone's character unplayable for the villains.

IC'ly: The current plan Saguru's had was for a few basic ideas to get thrown out:
1) NOT relying on a specific person clearly "In Charge" - not only does that set someone up with a target on their back even for actions of others in the system, but it throws everyone in the lurch if they go home.

2) There needs to be input from outside the system from the beginning, and at least a vague majority of the Manor/the more vocal residents agreeing to it, or else it's gonna only succeed at pissing people off (again).

3) Internal organization - the people involved need to know who's best at what and communicate enough for people to have roles so they're not clonking heads or covering the same ground three times. Also get at least a couple people that're ... better with people and fairly objective to be visible, active, and easily reachable.

4) Laws - Nothing beyond some pretty simple common-sense things is going to work, and even that's going to have to be flexible, because let's face it, there's the people who're used to strictly regulated societies, and then there's the people who'd take being told to tow someone else's line as a reason to start trouble just to defy it. Fights break out that both parties are involved in, and if they can resolve it between themselves without dragging other people into it, that can be left alone. Something that could reasonably be defended as self defense or "Protecting own interests/response to a threat, not being a random danger to others" kept within bounds that aren't just "Holding grudge and going to hassle this person endlessly" can be left alone or hashed out with the attorneys, if it looks like it'll be a problem.

Said attorneys and/or someone the parties involved would reasonably trust and listen to ending up getting a mediation role in cases of conflicts that just aren't getting resolved or look like they're going to snowball - since everyone else does have to live with the noise too, and there IS fallout from that kind of continued fight.

Leave other people's stuff alone. Rape/torture/etc., unprovoked assault, aiming at people who can't properly defend themselves, causing needless death, also a pretty solid "No".

Victim gets a say in the response to a "crime" - if something happens like Eddie and Ophs where the person that got hurt the worst says "No, I don't want to see this prosecuted, we have it under control" and it's not looking like it'll get out of hand/it's a reasoned request that's not "terrorized into it/afraid of retaliation"? It'd be something to keep an eye on but not interfere in.

4) Disaster Response and getting outside help. The "justice system" SHOULD have plans to step forward and start working to protect the squishier Manorites and help coordinate a reaction when Plots turn nasty, and should have it as an established practice to accept/include outside help if there's someone reasonably trustworthy with specialized skills or other volunteers - like Tris setting up barriers to protect people, as an example, or having a few people with powers for backup in case there's trouble with someone who could smish the members. The people involved in the legal system should be prepared to basically speed-dial the medics and healers to coordinate with in emergencies, as well.