Judges and Summary Executions

[darth_azabrush]

Is it specified in any of the books the exact circumstances under which a Judge may suminarily execute a perp? I'm worried if I start a game I'm going to have problems with my players thinking they're Dredd and blowing away everyone!

 

[Robin]

Is it specified in any of the books the exact circumstances under which a Judge may suminarily execute a perp? I'm worried if I start a game I'm going to have problems with my players thinking they're Dredd and blowing away everyone!

In terms of the strip itself...

Actual execution, by which I mean killing a perp who has been otherwise subdued, is not unknown. Execution for mass murder is one instance I can remember, as is treason. A bullet in the head seems standard in street-level executions, but lethal injection is also used.

By and large, though, the aim seems to be to apprehend and imprison. However, anyone who starts shooting at a Judge does become a legitimate target.

Judges can and do get reprimanded for excessive violence, and watched and investiagted by the SJS, so you do have some in-game tools for dealing with players who push their characters too far.

Regards

Robin

 

[Shadow Queen]

1st degree murder of a Street Judge, is another case for execution

 

[The Greek]

I would say that there would have to be really bad circumstances for summary execution.

Non-citizens guilty of gruesome murders would probably be high on the list of those so dealt with (especially muties) - although citizens of friendly or powerful states may well be okay.

Considering some very nasty and evil multiple murderers have gotten away with being locked up there are very few circumstances that would count. I can think of a few examples:

Muties.
Gila Munja.
The zombie Silver (does he count?).
A group of bankrobbing perps that used flamethrowers on citizens to get what they wanted.
Orlok (although he got a trial).
Griffin (War situation).
Kazan (ditto).
One of the beggars suffering from Grubbs disease (about to 'pop').

That is about it. Apart from the flame thrower perps I can not think of much in the way of straight executions.

 

[Shadow Queen]

Rad Fleas

 

[Ray]

Rico, but that was an exceptional situation.

 

[The Greek]

Rico, but that was an exceptional situation.

I thought Rico was killed trying to outdraw Dredd.

Kraken was an exceptional situation (which you just reminded me of by mentioning one of Dredd's clones).

 

[Ray]

Yep, Rico was killed that way. Attempted Murder of a Judge.

 

[Dredd Times]

Accepted terms for summary execution:

Gila Munja: Gila Munja are to be terminated on sight when and if found within the confines of Mega-City One. Noted in the strip on several occasions.

Judge Murder: Summary execution noted several times in the strip.

Treason: Summary execution

Colaberation with an enemy that endangers Mega-City One, its people, etc, Summary execution. See Apocalypse War for more details.

Looting: several times looters have been shot dead for stealing during Necropolis, Robot Wars (2nd) and the Apocalypse War.

1st Degree Murder. Judges are empowered to execute perps who commit wanton acts of murder with no show of remorse.

Infection: Victims of diseases such as Wasting Bobos and Grubbs are often executed/euthanised to both end their suffering and stop any further contagion.

The exact details of summary execution have never been fully noted in either the strips or any of the Mongoose Publishing books, but the above are all documented. As noted above by Robin, judges who show excessive force can face a repremand for faliure to follow procedures. Good tip is to try and remind players that they are there to uphold the law and not to adminster their own brand of it. Also one last thing, if a citizen or perp shoots at a judge with intent to kill, maim or injure then they forego all their rights and if they are killed in return the judge will face no repremands.

I did have an article about full penal codes of statue on my laptop but it was stolen (the laptop that is), if work permits I will re-write it for S&P.

Marc

 

[Dredd Times]

Rico, but that was an exceptional situation.

I thought Rico was killed trying to outdraw Dredd.

Kraken was an exceptional situation (which you just reminded me of by mentioning one of Dredd's clones).

Nick,
Rico was killed during a gunfight with Joe Dredd (not fast enough on the draw) but rather than being executed it was more a case of Cadets Rights, which is often used to resolve conflicts and such in the Academy of Law.

Marc

 

[darth_azabrush]

I suppose in Brit Cit being a Chav makes you fair game

 

[Shadow Queen]

I did have an article about full penal codes of statue on my laptop but it was stolen (the laptop that is), if work permits I will re-write it for S&P.

Marc

Thought there was one in the back of the RPG Book

 

[darth_azabrush]

Yeah but none of the crimes listed carry the death sentance automatically.