Star Citizen provides a wide range of content for both players looking for a primarily PvE experience, as well as ace pilots and gunslingers looking for opportunities to test their skills against other players. To ensure the rights of citizens operating in UEE space or a lawful organization's territory are protected, there are laws in place within Monitored Space around Planets and Stations. Laws in Star Citizen are designed to deter hyper-aggressive gameplay and random attacks on law-abiding citizens, but are unenforced in Unmonitored Space, far from civilization.
Checking the Laws
To ensure you are on the right (or wrong) side of the law you should be aware of your current location in the verse and what faction or factions control that location. The laws will change based on who's in charge in the area. You can check your location via your mobiGlas (F1).
Once you have confirmed your location, click on your Journals tab and locate the legal code for the appropriate system.
Breaking the Law
If you break the law in monitored space, you can expect to receive a Crimestat. Misdemeanor infractions can be cleared by paying a fine at the legal terminal located at most Admin facilities. Some locations may refuse landing permission if your Crimestat is too high. Repeated misdemeanor offenses may raise your Crimestat to felony levels.
Felony level infractions incur a prison sentence with Klescher Rehabilitation. You are not required to remain logged in for the timer to count down, but you can choose to reduce your sentence by mining or completing tasks for Klescher Rehabilitation. You can also lengthen your stay by engaging in additional illegal activities, such as attempting to escape and getting caught.
To avoid a prison sentence, you will have to find a way to hack away your crime stat at a security outpost.
Crimestat That Seems to Never Go Away
Should you be in the strange position where security turrets and other things are firing on you despite not having a crimestat, as strange as it may sound, you may need to check your system clock.