ROGUES GALLERY - 'The Superpower Act of 2011' (Poll Coming Soon)

[Master Mew]

Welcome to the official Rogues Gallery Congressional Hearing on the Status of Physio-Anomalous Entities In Regards to International Law.

Whew, that was a mouthful. :dizzy:

Anyway, here's the issue I would like to discuss (and, as a side-note, this is a separate thread for two reasons: 1. So I can add a poll later for us to vote on this, and 2. To keep the discussion on topic):

What new 'Law' should we, as a team, pass inside the RGverse to explain how Supervillains (and occasionally even Superheroes) can be immediately apprehended and sent to New Alcatraz (instead of a standard prison) with little no interaction from Law Enforcement and prior to a trial by jury?

My proposal:

The use of "Superpowers" in any way with the intent or consequence of causing physical or psychological harm to a non-physio-anomalous (e.g. "non-super") individual is classified as a First Degree Felony punishable by lifetime imprisonment in, and only in, the I.M.S.P.P.E. Facility (e.g. "New Alcatraz") in New York, New York. A Trial-by-Jury is still necessary, though can be circumvented if the procedure can reasonably be deemed volatile to public safety.

 

[Glitchipedia]

Sounds reasonable. The trial by jury would probably end up being skipped a lot, though.

 

[tyler212]

So if someone gets caught because he kills someone with a gun instead of there superpowers they would be sent to a regular prison?

 

[Master Mew]

Sounds reasonable. The trial by jury would probably end up being skipped a lot, though.

True. Some Villains, however, (i.e. Prowler) have Superpowers that don't really pose a threat in court. Also, there are a decent number of character that don't truly possess and superpowers at all (thus excluding them from imprisonment in New Alcatraz at all under this rule - could make things interesting).

So if someone gets caught because he kills someone with a gun instead of there superpowers they would be sent to a regular prison?

Only if they never used their powers to harm a human being.

 

[tyler212]

So as long as I don't use something I teleported on top of humans, my character would never end up in New Alcatraz unless the jury says so. Most likely with my superpower I would be deemed an easy escape.

 

[Godzillawolf]

I think there should be something taking into account Heel Face Turns, like Sakak. Like a form of Super Probation or the like. And probably they'd need someone responsible to vouch for them or make some kind of deal with a court.

I could see Trial still being possible in most cases though, just it'd need to be the villain attending by video feed or the like unless even that was not possible.

 

[Heroic Sociopath]

Does this mean that people without superpowers, such as Disarray and Icira, could never get sent to New Alcatraz? And wouldn't that mean Super Heroes could get sent there just for using their powers to stop Disarray or Icira, despite them being villains who are quite capable of holding their own against super-powered beings?

 

[Majin Mew]

There's one problem with this law. If a supervillain does not have powers than a superhero that harmed them would legally have to go to prison.

 

[Glitchipedia]

Simple solution: grant the superheroes a "license to kill".

 

[Godzillawolf]

Does this mean that people without superpowers, such as Disarray and Icira, could never get sent to New Alcatraz? And wouldn't that mean Super Heroes could get sent there just for using their powers to stop Disarray or Icira, despite them being villains who are quite capable of holding their own against super-powered beings?

This is a good point. I think it should be revised to using their powers in a way detramental to public safety instead. As many superheros use there powers to capture non-superpowered criminals. So revising it to using their powers with an intentional intent to commit actions which would harm the public instead seems like a much better law to me.

 

[Heroic Sociopath]

But then, there are villains with more complex motives. Like what about one that wanted to use mind control to make everyone's will dominated by his own for the purpose of creating world piece? Then the hero would still get in trouble, right? I think that 'public safety' is very vague, and so a hero should only get away with it if they have reason to believe that the villain has or is going to break the law.

 

[Majin Mew]

*peace

 

[Master Mew]

What several of you have pointed out is correct - under my Proposition (and anyone is free to post their own law for us all to vote on), many Superheroes would be branded fugitive vigilantes.

 

[Flaze]

How about if Superheroes are forgiving if it is declared that the person they harmed was a villain or any damage they caused was to help catch one.

Also what happens to super heroes that don't have super powers or who have powers that aren't exactly noticeable or even able to be used in a dangerous manner.

 

[Master Mew]

Any character without superpowers who is deemed a criminal would be sent to a standard Prison.

 

[Hector]

How would superpowers that aren't clearly seen be shown? By this I mean super-reflexes or improbable aiming skills.

Would people like this be eligible to be sent to New Alcatraz?

 

[Singing in the Rain]

Here's what I think:

.Those who use any kind of attributes enough to make them super, be it powers or otherwise, are suspectable in both ways and are responsible for all harm that they do(i.e., if Icira were to use a gun on a non-super innocent, it would count)

.Those who purposefully assault an non-super innocent(i.e. a non-super criminal can still be stopped via super attributes,) without a signifigant reason to do so(e.g. Jeremy assaulted the police to save D.C., so he wouldn't count, while Dissaray assaulted the army with the intent of harm, so he would,) deserve to go to New Alkatraz

 

[Singing in the Rain]

Here's what I think:

.Those who use any kind of attributes enough to make them super, be it powers or otherwise, are suspectable in both ways and are responsible for all harm that they do(i.e., if Icira were to use a gun on a non-super innocent, it would count)

.Those who purposefully assault an non-super innocent(i.e. a non-super criminal can still be stopped via super attributes,) without a signifigant reason to do so(e.g. Jeremy assaulted the police to save D.C., so he wouldn't count, while Dissaray assaulted the army with the intent of harm, so he would,) deserve to go to New Alkatraz

 

[Godzillawolf]

Wouldn't the damage caused stopping a villain from commiting a greater act of evil be covered under the good sameritian act?

This would require a complext law...perhaps something like this?

1) If the person in question is too dangerious for a normal prison to contain or normal law enforcement to deal with, they will be transfered to New Alcatraz in the event of arrest. If the person cannot be properly contained for a jury trial, they will appear via video unless their powers render this hazardous as well, in which case the trial will be done in a way safe for all involved.

2) A person in question fits criteria 1 is forbidden from commiting actions which present a clear and present risk to the safety, health, and well being of innocent people or violate civil or national law.

3) There is present evidence the person violating 2 were not manipulated by an outside force that rendered them not responsible for their actions. (IE, being drugged by a supervillain causing them to go on a rampage or under influence of telepathy).

4) If the criminal in question pleads guilty, they may agree to "public service" in the form of carrying out heroic deeds in defense of the public.

I'd also like to suggest something else to help with this:

Superhero Rights Amendment (this is a constitutional amendment): If a person fitting criteria 1 has consistantly utilized their abilities to preserve innocent lives and assisting law enforcement, they are protected under the Good Samiratin Act and their right to carry out acts of heroism is protected by law. In the event that a person protected by the SRA is in conflict with one violating criteria 2, they are permitted to do whatever is required to protect the lives and well being of innocent people so long as they do not exceed the damage allowing the criminal would likely cause if left unchecked. A person protected by the SRA maintains the right to keep their civilian identity secret to protect themselves and their loved ones from the vengeance of those who may do them harm. If the person in question violates criteria 2, they will lose their protection under the SRA.

 

[Master Mew]

How would superpowers that aren't clearly seen be shown? By this I mean super-reflexes or improbable aiming skills.

Would people like this be eligible to be sent to New Alcatraz?

Likely such characters wouldn't publicly be known to possess superpowers at all - thus they would not be sent to New Alcatraz.

Those who purposefully assault an non-super innocent(i.e. a non-super criminal can still be stopped via super attributes,) without a signifigant reason to do so(e.g. Jeremy assaulted the police to save D.C., so he wouldn't count, while Dissaray assaulted the army with the intent of harm, so he would,) deserve to go to New Alkatraz

I actually think Jeremy's actions would count - after all, the villains usually weren't around at all when he assaulted Police Officers (he just didn't want to be arrested), and the argument that he was trying to keep from being arrested so that he would be able to save D.C. is effectively invalidated by the fact that he didn't save D.C. - the Villains' failure was their own doing.