The Law
New Zealand law is based on English common law, and is very similar to the American and
(especially) British legal systems of the late 20th century. However it has a few variations
from these systems, both to account for developments in technology, and for cultural reasons.
Laws
- Overall New Zealand law is CR 3 for the home islands, 4 for the territories -
in theory the two have the same laws, but in practise terrorism and espionage in
the territories means police are granted more latitude and courts tend to be less
lenient.
- With regard to firearms both the home islands and territories are CR 5. In
order to own a firearm a person must be licenced, which costs $150 and takes a
week to perform a cursory background check. Licences will usually be granted unless
the individual has been convicted of a violent offense or has a history of mental
illness. Even with a licence only hunting and stun rifles are permitted, the latter
for use on animals rather than self-defense.
- No specific criminal offenses yet relate to memetics, however memetic
engineers have been prosecuted for such crimes as criminal nuisance, fraud,
disturbing the peace, and even manslaughter.
Court Procedures
- It has been established by precedent that any actions of an AI under the
direction of a human controller are the responsibility of the controller.
Actions taken by an AI on it's own initiative are the responsiblity of the AI
itself, and can result in a court ordering the AI deleted (equivalent to
having an animal put down). Proving that an AI acted independently can be difficult,
but since (human) defendents are innocent until proven guilty AIs are often
convenient scapegoats.
- The testimony of AIs, bioroids, and uplifts are all
admissable in court, however the defense is allowed to challenge the intelligence
and sapience of these beings on a case by case basis.
- Information from fragments, ghosts, shadows, or
slinky uploading are all admissable, but are treated as equivalent to witnesses.
Fragments, ghosts, or slinkies taken from a defendent are usually inadmissable
because they violate their right to avoid self-incrimination.
- A few cases have seen defense lawyers arguing for verdicts of "not guilty by
reason of memetic influence." As stated these have always been rejected, however
a few extreme cases of memetic influence have been accepted as not guilty by
reason of insanity.
Punishment
The most common punishment for violent crime in New Zealand remains
incarceration, however prison time is vastly different from what it
was at during past centuries. Each prison has a team of memetic engineers,
who work with each prisoners assigned LAI to provide effective rehabilitation.
This is usually effective, at least for a while - a few prisoners are
rehabilitated, then return to their old ways under the influence of their
old enviroment. While LAI monitor implants are used, puppet implants are not,
and nor is corporal or capital punishment.
For criminals deemed not guilty by reason of insanity, nanotherapy is usually
offered as a voluntary alternative to prison. Depending on the success of the therapy
there may also be some additional punishment; usually a short term stay in prison
to confirm that the treatment has taken. For repeat offenders (3 counts or more of
violent crimes) nanotherapy is compulsory, in addition to the full prison term.
For the small class of offenders resistant to nanotherapy, nanostasis is the
usual punishment.