Laws vs Server Rules
This page covers in-game crimes — offenses handled by the server’s law system through fines, jail, and courts. Server rule violations (hacking, griefing, harassment) are handled separately by staff. See the Rules page for those.
How the Law System Works
ProsperitySMP has an in-game law system separate from staff enforcement. In-game crimes are economic and social violations that occur within the game world — theft, fraud, assault, trespassing.
- Staff handle real rule violations: hacking, cheating, harassment, griefing.
- The law system handles in-game crimes: theft, fraud, trespassing, assault, market violations.
Punishments for in-game crimes include fines, restitution, and jail time — not bans. A ban is reserved for real rule violations, not in-game crimes.
Fine Schedule
Fines are issued by staff acting as law enforcement, or through the court system when disputes are brought forward.
Minor Offenses
| Offense | Fine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minor trespassing | $100 | Entering a protected area without permission |
| Public nuisance | $150 | Disruptive builds or signs in public areas |
| Verbal misconduct (in-game) | $250 | First offense; escalates on repeat |
| Littering / abandoned structures | $100–$250 | Structures left in public areas after warning |
Medium Offenses
| Offense | Fine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Theft (low value, under $500) | Restitution + $500 | Victim receives restitution |
| Unprovoked assault | $750 | PvP initiated without consent outside combat zones |
| Property damage (minor) | Restitution + $500 | Victim receives restitution |
| Repeated trespassing | $500 | After first offense warning |
Serious Offenses
| Offense | Fine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Theft (high value, over $500) | Restitution + $2,000–$5,000 | Victim receives restitution; may include plot eviction |
| Fraud or scamming | Restitution × 2 | All proceeds returned; double fine |
| Major property damage | Restitution + $2,000 | Admin-verified via CoreProtect logs |
| Repeated assault | $3,000–$5,000 | Escalates per incident; may include jail |
| Market manipulation | $5,000–$10,000 | Coordinated price fixing or artificial inflation |
Extreme Offenses
| Offense | Punishment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Running an illegal operation | $5,000–$10,000 + plot eviction | Illegal shops, unauthorized industrial operations |
| Bribery of officials | $10,000 + rank suspension | Zero tolerance |
| Repeat serious offenses | Jail + escalating fine | Escalating enforcement per incident |
Fine Scaling
Fines are designed to be meaningful at all player stages. A $500 fine matters more to a new player than a late-game player. Repeat offenders face escalating fines and additional penalties beyond the base fine.
Restitution
When a crime has a victim — theft, fraud, property damage — the offender pays restitution directly to the victim equal to the value of what was taken or damaged, in addition to any fine paid to the city.
Restitution is determined by:
- Item market value at time of offense
- Admin shop equivalent value if market price is unclear
- Staff discretion for property damage assessed via CoreProtect
Jail
Jail is reserved for serious or repeat offenders. Jailed players:
- Cannot leave the jail area
- Continue to accrue time — jail duration is set at sentencing
- May pay a bail amount to be released early (set by staff)
Appealing a Fine
If you believe a fine was issued in error:
- Do not evade or ignore it — unpaid fines accrue
- Contact staff through the official appeal process
- Provide evidence if you have it (screenshots, coordinates, timestamps)
- Staff decisions on appeals are final
Escalating Penalties
For serious or repeat offenses, staff may apply penalties beyond a standard fine:
- Plot eviction — removal from a rented or purchased plot for violations committed on that land
- Job restriction — temporary suspension from job wage earning for economic crimes
- Rank demotion — loss of civic rank or title for corruption or abuse of position
- Permanent ban — reserved for real rule violations (hacking, griefing), not in-game crimes
Reporting a Crime
To report an in-game crime:
- Contact staff with evidence
- Provide the player name, what happened, when, and where
- CoreProtect logs are used to verify property damage and theft claims
- Staff will not act on claims without evidence