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'''Crime & Punishment''' refers to the game mechanics in ''[[Elite Dangerous]]'' that punish certain player actions that are classified as "criminal behavior" according to in-universe rules. Typically, players who commit crimes will accumulate [[Notoriety]], [[Bounty|bounties, and fines]], which incentivizes other players to hunt them down or attracts the attention of NPC security forces. Criminal players with active bounties who are destroyed in [[combat]] by other players, system security, or [[Advanced Tactical Response|Advanced Tactical Response (ATR)]] are sent to a [[Detention Centre]], where they are forced to pay all legal fees and [[Redeployment|repurchase]] their [[ships]]. Alternatively, criminals with sufficient funds can clear their records by waiting for their Notoriety to fade and using [[Interstellar Factor]]s to pay off their bounties and fines.

This system will be reworked with the Law & Disorder update in December 2026.<ref>[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/september-2026-dev-log-law-disorder-first-details-anaconda-mk-ii-revealed September 2026 Dev Log | Law & Disorder First Details & Anaconda Mk II Revealed] - 24 Sep 2026 - Elite Dangerous</ref>

== Overview ==
=== Fines and Bounties ===
{{Main|Bounty}}
As a player commits crimes, they will receive either a fine or a bounty depending on the scale of the crime. Fines are accrued for minor crimes, such as littering by dropping [[Cargo Canister]]s inside a [[starport]], while bounties are accrued for major crimes, such as murdering another player or a non-criminal NPC. Fines and bounties are directly recorded against the player who committed them, whether they are piloting a ship or [[On Foot]] at the time. If the player receives a bounty, the ship they used during the commission of the crime will be marked as "Wanted", which will trigger a hostile response if it is scanned by system security.

Scanning a ship normally by targeting it with active [[Sensors]] will reveal if it is Wanted, while the [[Kill Warrant Scanner]] can be used to uncover a detailed list of fines and bounties, either involving a ship or On Foot, that are attached to that player. If the player is On Foot, any crimes or contraband related to the player can be detected by NPCs using a [[Profile Analyser]], but this tool can only be used to scan On Foot individuals, not ships.

Players can pay off fines at station Security Contacts while docked or inside a [[Concourse]], while bounties can only be paid off at [[Interstellar Factors]] if the player has zero [[Notoriety]].

In addition to criminal bounties, there are three other unique bounty types applied in certain situations:
*Interstellar Bounties - Bounties applied by a superpower ([[Federation]], [[Empire]], or [[Alliance]]) across all systems in their jurisdiction when fines and bounties for individual factions aligned to superpower exceed a certain threshold.
*Power Bounties - Bounties issued for [[Powerplay]]-related crimes.
*Pilots Federation Bounties - Bounties issued solely for PvP crimes, which are valid in all non-anarchy systems.

=== Hot ships and modules ===
At the time a bounty is applied to the player, the player's ship and any modules installed on that ship are also marked as "Hot". This greatly reduces the sale value of those ships and modules, prevents Hot modules from being installed on clean ships, and causes all ports under the jurisdiction of the faction that issued the bounty to restrict their available services. Players who dock at these ports are forced to circumvent these restrictions by using "Anonymous Access Protocols", but are still unable to access most services; the Refuel service is always available regardless of criminal status.

Note that crimes committed On Foot are recorded against the player directly, and their ship will remain clean as long as it was not involved. If a player uses a ship to commit a crime related to On Foot activities, such as using a ship's weapons to attack a [[settlement]], then both the player and their ship will be associated with that crime, and the ship and its modules will be marked Hot.

Hot ships that are not in storage can be cleaned at an [[Interstellar Factor]] if the player has zero Notoriety. Hot modules can be cleaned in the [[Outfitting]] menu at any port for a fee equivalent to 5% of each module's rebuy cost.

=== Notoriety ===
{{Main|Notoriety}}
Notoriety is used to track a player's recent criminal activity. As a player commits crimes, their Notoriety will rise from 0 to a maximum level of 10. The greater the Notoriety, the more likely [[Advanced Tactical Response]] forces will intervene to defeat and apprehend the player in inhabited systems. Having any Notoriety above 0 prevents the player from being able to turn themselves in at a port's Security Contact or use an Interstellar Factor to pay off bounties. Notoriety decays automatically over time provided that the player remains logged-in and does not continue committing crimes.

=== Interstellar Factors ===
{{Main|Interstellar Factor}}
Interstellar Factors are a unique service that allow players to pay off any bounties they have accrued, regardless of faction jurisdiction, without being sent to a [[Detention Centre]], and to redeem any [[Bounty Voucher]]s and [[Combat Bond Voucher|Combat Bonds]] in their possession. Both of these options have a 25% fee attached, however.

=== Punishment ===
{{Main|Detention Centre}}
[[File:The Iron Claw (Detention Center).png|thumb|The Iron Claw (Detention Center)]]
Players with active bounties who are critically injured in On Foot combat, lose their ship in battle against security forces, or who voluntarily turn themselves in at a Security Contact, are sent to the nearest Detention Centre with jurisdiction over them. There, they are forced to pay off their accumulated fines and bounties before they can leave; if they lack sufficient funds, they must declare [[bankruptcy]], foregoing any chance to rebuy their previous ship.

Additionally, any of the player's ships that retain any uncleared bounties at the time the player is apprehended will be "Impounded" by authorities, and the player must pay a "Release Fee" to have each one returned. This includes stored ships, and ships that the player last used before disembarking for On Foot activities.

=== Anarchy ===
If the controlling faction of a system has the Anarchy government, everything explained above is completely thrown out the window. In these systems, the only law is that there is no law. Any crime can be committed without fines, bounties, or loss of faction reputation. This is very useful for committing [[Pirate|Piracy]], grinding [[Combat]] rank, and raiding [[Settlement|Settlements]] to collect materials for [[Handheld Weapon]] and [[Suits|Suit]] upgrades and engineering, or simply to sell to [[Bartender|Bartenders]].

== See also ==
* [[Bounty Hunter]]
* [[Pirate]]

== Videos ==
<gallery>
File:Elite Dangerous - Crime and Punishment
File:New Crime System- "Law & Disorder" (Elite Dangerous)
</gallery>

== Related guides ==
* [https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/elite-dangerous-odyssey-bgs-and-crime-details.575842/ Frontier Forums: Elite Dangerous: Odyssey BGS and crime details]
* [https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/elite-dangerous-crime-fines-bounties-and-notoriety.587014/ Frontier Forums: Elite Dangerous Crime: Fines, Bounties and Notoriety]
* [https://customersupport.frontier.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360011922539-A-GUIDE-ON-CRIME-PUNISHMENT Frontier Support: A guide on Crime and Punishment. - PC]

== References ==
[[ru:Преступление и наказание]]
[[zh:犯罪與懲罰]]
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Crime]]