Imperial Penal Code

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"The Imperial government, obsessed with implementing a defined standard across a galaxy of variables, attempted to create a uniform Imperial legal code that would apply to the entire Empire and codify criminal offenses."
―Exantor Divo[2]

The Imperial Penal Code,[1] also known as the Imperial Legal Code,[3] was the revised legal system established across the galaxy by the Galactic Empire after its establishment in 19 BBY. It categorised crime into five main classes of infractions,[2] including Class Two[4] and Class Five infractions, with the latter being the least serious. Class One Offenses were the most serious crimes and included conspiracy against the Empire and piracy. Despite the high level of codification of Imperial law, Imperial law enforcement agencies had a high degree of freedom in interpreting any situation they encountered.[2]

While a class five offense could be considered the least serious, it did not mean that the punishment would not be severe. In one case on Ringo Vinda, the local governor gave out a six month sentence for a speeder crash and an extra ten year sentence for crashing into and defacing a statue of Emperor Palpatine.[1] In another, the curator of the Imperial Museum on Coruscant used the Code to sentence the Pathfinder Needle to death for attempting to steal a Quermian artifact.[5]

Legal Code

Offence Infraction level Typical sentences
Non-compliance with license standards for Starships[2] Class Five[2]
Non-compliance with license standards for Vehicles[2] Class Five[2]
  • up to 1000 credits fine[2]
Non-compliance with license standards for equipment[2] Class Five[2]
  • up to 1000 credits fine[2]
Civil Disruption (Nonlethal Public disturbance) [2] Class Five[2]
Purchase of non-weapon contraband[2] Class Four[2]
  • up to 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
Possession of non-weapon contraband[2] Class Four[2]
  • up to 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
Transportation of non-weapon contraband[2] Class Four[2]
  • up to 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
Transportation of certain goods without paying tariff[2] Class Four[2]
  • up to 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
Transportation of certain goods without required permits[2] Class Four[2]
  • up to 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
Aggravated nonlethal assault [2] Class Four[2]
  • up to 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
Aiding and abetting known felons[2] Class Three[2]
  • upwards of 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
  • suspension of piloting licenses[2]
grand theft[2] Class Three[2]
  • upwards of 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
  • suspension of piloting licenses[2]
Attempted bribery of an Imperial officer[2] Class Three[2]
  • upwards of 5000 credits fine[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
  • suspension of piloting licenses[2]
Murder[2] Class Three[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Manslaughter[2] Class Three[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Assault on Law enforcement[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Embezzlement[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Fraud[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Purchase of Stolen Goods[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Transport of Stolen Goods[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment 30+ years[2]
Sale of weaponry without a permit[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Transport of weaponry without a permit[2] Class Two[2]
  • upwards of 10000 credits fine[2]
  • 30+ years Imprisonment[2]
Possession of unsanctioned weapons[4] Class Two[4]
Forgery of Imperial documents[4] Class Two[4]
Conspiracy against the Galactic Empire[2] Class One[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
  • Summary Execution[2]
Violence against the Imperial Military[2] Class One[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
  • Summary Execution[2]
Unsanctioned and unsupervised[1] piracy (or similar acts) against a starship[2] Class One[2]
Aiding and abetting acts of rebellion[2] Class One[2]
  • Imprisonment[2]
  • Summary Execution[2]
Damaging Imperial property[6] Class One[6]
  • Six years imprisonment[6]
Fleeing the scene of anti-Imperial activity[6] Class One[6]
  • Six years imprisonment[6]
Aggravated assault against Imperial military personnel[4] Class One[4]
  • Five years of hard work in Imperial labor camp[4]
Escape from custody[4] Class One[4]
  • Five years of hard work in Imperial labor camp[4]
Active sedition[1] Class One[1]
  • Imprisonment in supermax prison facility[1]
Assassination attempt against senior Imperial official[1] Class One[1]
  • Imprisonment in supermax prison facility[1]
Suspected Force sensitivity[6] Unknown
Failure to follow Imperial command[6] Unknown
  • Imprisonment[6]
Anti-Imperial vandalism[6] Unknown
  • Imprisonment[6]
Loitering at the scene of a crime[6] Unknown
  • Short imprisonment[6]
Walking an unleashed massive animal[6] Unknown
  • Short imprisonment[6]
Animal fouling[6] Unknown
  • Short imprisonment[6]
Anti-Imperial speech[6] Unknown
  • Imprisonment[6]
Fleeing the scene of Anti-Imperial activity[6] Unknown
  • Imprisonment[6]
Attempted damage to Imperial property[6] Unknown
  • Imprisonment[6]
Resisting judgement[6] Unknown Unknown


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Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
  2. ↑ 2.000 2.001 2.002 2.003 2.004 2.005 2.006 2.007 2.008 2.009 2.010 2.011 2.012 2.013 2.014 2.015 2.016 2.017 2.018 2.019 2.020 2.021 2.022 2.023 2.024 2.025 2.026 2.027 2.028 2.029 2.030 2.031 2.032 2.033 2.034 2.035 2.036 2.037 2.038 2.039 2.040 2.041 2.042 2.043 2.044 2.045 2.046 2.047 2.048 2.049 2.050 2.051 2.052 2.053 2.054 2.055 2.056 2.057 2.058 2.059 2.060 2.061 2.062 2.063 2.064 2.065 2.066 2.067 2.068 2.069 2.070 2.071 2.072 2.073 2.074 2.075 2.076 2.077 2.078 2.079 2.080 2.081 2.082 2.083 2.084 2.085 2.086 2.087 2.088 2.089 2.090 2.091 2.092 2.093 2.094 2.095 2.096 2.097 2.098 2.099 2.100 2.101 2.102 2.103 2.104 2.105 2.106 2.107 2.108 Star Wars: Scum and Villainy: Case Files on the Galaxy's Most Notorious
  3. ↑ Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 8 Droid Directory: Imperial Mark IV Sentry Droid
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
  5. ↑ Star Wars (2020) 9
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 Andor logo new Star Wars: Andor — "Announcement"
  7. ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Steps Into Shadow
  8. ↑ StarWars.com "Announcement" Trivia Gallery | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link) (Slide 6)