In the Golden Age, there was a standardised system of criminal justice which operated with incredible fairness throughout the Empire.

Now things are different.

Each District is responsible for maintaining its own law and order. As such systems of crime and punishment vary depending on the District a crime is committed in.

As a rule of thumb, a crime occurs when someone important enough takes issue with a questionable act you have undertaken.

The more important the person, or the greater the issue taken, the worse things are likely to become for you.

The Orders are strict, and take a dim view of anything which disturbs the peace.

However, there are some variations depending on which Order of Paladins makes the arrest.

Paladins of the Torch are notoriously incorruptible.

Generally harsher to crimes involving damage to property or assets.

Generally softer on members of their own House - and others, depending on the political climate.

Often levy heavy fines in lieu of custodial sentences.

Have an exceptionally elaborate and impenetrable system of courts and justices.

Possibly the fairest of all the Great Houses.

Often commute sentences to military service.

Employ a variety of planar magics in their trials.

Generally softer on members of their own House - and others, depending on the political climate.

Are willing to commute sentences for Remnants or valuable insight into the planes.

Officially, there is no law in the Barrens - no law but street law.

Those who know better whisper of the court of the Thief Lairds; the Court of Keelen.

There is no law in the Wastes. Merely anarchy.

Outside the Embrace of Empire, the Foresters Guild are responsible for maintaining law and order.

Their justice is a pragmatic justice, and usually revolves around whether or not the crime involved the Wood of Loss and threatened the city.

The Order of the Wheel are officially responsible for enforcing law in their estates, but this has lapsed with the dwindling of their numbers.

Home of the Imperial Court.

One can - technically - always appeal to the Imperial Court if one does not like the judgement that has been given.

This may not be strictly advisable.

The Imperial Court is reputedly the strictest and most terrifying court of justice in Rastaban. Even petty infractions are punished to the letter of Imperial law.

Traitors are always tried in the Imperial Court.

There are certain classes of crime that are Treason.

Examples of these are: taking a Census, leaving one's home during an Intercalary Event, Bodily or Temporal Threat to the Silent Regent or the Council of Seven, Unlawful possession of Black Ichor, publicly purporting to disclose a list of crimes that are Treason.

Suspects are dragged through the Traitor's Gate into the Imperial District by hooded figures which appear from the shadows.

Those guilty of Treason are executed.

You can accept the punishment offered to you by the authority which has arrested you.

Depending on your Wealth, you can try and bribe your way out of the situation.

You can also pay your way out with Favour.

You can resist arrest and try to escape. If you succeed, you are then Wanted in that District, and by the faction that arrested you.

If you have contacts with the authority which has arrested you, you may be able to negotiate a softer sentence, or get them to overlook certain actions.