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Code of Conduct

SCP-079: The Code of Conduct for The SCP Foundation has been documented. The details outlined below pertain to the ethical rules that must be observed by all personnel at all times. Any violations of these rules will result in termination or alternative punishments, as determined by The Internal Tribunal Department.

1.0 The SCP Foundation Personnel Rights and Freedoms​

The Internal Tribunal Department hereby declares that all personnel, regardless of rank or status, employed by the Foundation or its Departments shall have the following rights and freedoms without interference or limitation, except as specified below:

1.1 Freedom of Expression​

All personnel are entitled to the freedom of expression, including the right to express their opinions and beliefs, as long as they do not:

  • Constitute a threat of treason against the Foundation,
  • Constitute an unethical act outlined in the Code of Conduct,
  • Constitute an unlawful act outlined in the Moral Compass.

1.2 Right to Equal and Fair Treatment​

All personnel shall receive equal and fair treatment under the law, including protection from unjust or unreasonable punishments, removals, and blacklists.

1.3 Right to Career Advancement​

All personnel shall have access to careers based on their abilities, except where:

  • The personnel poses a credible threat to their chosen career or the Foundation,
  • The personnel is rightfully blacklisted.

1.4 Presumption of Innocence​

All personnel are to be considered innocent until proven guilty through a thorough investigation based on evidence and facts.

1.5 Due Process​

All personnel shall receive due process in all disciplinary and judicial actions or proceedings, subject to applicable Foundation laws. This includes the right to receive notice of reasoning and punishment, except when the reasoning involves classified information that cannot be disclosed as a matter of Foundation Security.

1.6 Proportionate Punishments​

All personnel shall not receive punishments that are disproportionate to their conduct. This includes the prohibition of illogical, obscene, or unjust punishments.

1.7 Freedom of Movement​

All personnel shall have the freedom to move and assemble in areas where they are permitted to do so, subject to limitations outlined in Section 18 (Limitations on Freedom of Movement). This freedom may be revoked for individuals or groups who engage in disruptive or disorderly behavior, or by:

  • Combative personnel (for security reasons, such as breaches, raids, or riots),
  • Guards (when necessary to protect a VIP using the same space),
  • Intelligence personnel,
  • The O5 Council and Administrator.

2.0 Class D Rights, Freedoms, and Limitations​

2.1 Right to Life​

Class D personnel are entitled to the right to life, free from harm or threat by any other individual. This right is subject to certain limitations, including:

  • Engaging in or attempting to escape confinement,
  • Engaging in, or attempting to breach the containment of an SCP, or hindering a Recontainment Unit from containing the SCP,
  • Crossing, or attempting to cross, the restricted area within the Containment and Detention Control Zone (CDCZ) without authorization,
  • Engaging in, or attempting to harm any other individual, including fellow Class D personnel,
  • Being selected for testing (see 3.2 Right to Life During Testing),
  • Being deemed a credible and imminent threat to personnel by Combative Personnel,
  • Possessing an item that presents a threat to personnel if used and presenting said item outside of their cell,
  • Engaging in, or attempting to bait Combative or Foundation personnel into violating ethical or Foundation law, after receiving 1 warning,
  • Failing to comply with commands issued by Combative personnel.

2.2 Right to Life during Testing​

Class D personnel are entitled to the right to life during testing, free from indecency or excessive danger. This right is subject to certain limitations, including:

  • Repeatedly failing to comply with orders issued by Testing personnel,
  • Permanent physical effects from testing, unless the effects are harmless and do not pose a threat to personnel,
  • The requirement of death for the test to proceed,
  • Refusing to participate in the test for reason deemed invalid,
  • Becoming inseparable or indivisible from an SCP during interaction.

2.3 Right to Association​

Class D personnel have the right to associate with whomever or whatever they wish without consequence or repercussion. The Internal Tribunal Department may recognize Class D factions as legitimate and official, allowing for diplomatic and negotiation efforts.

2.4 Forfeiture of Rights and Freedoms​

Class D personnel forfeit their rights and freedoms when exiting their designated cells or confinement area, or during lockdown scenarios. They also lose their rights and freedoms through engaging in rioting, defined as repeatedly (2 or more times) harming others or attempting to escape. Repeat forfeiture will result in solitary confinement (see 6.1 Lockdown and SURGE, and 6.2 Solitary Confinement).

2.5 Briefing​

Class D personnel must be informed of their rights during testing, including:

  • Termination for receiving 1 or more warnings from Combative personnel,
  • Termination for attempting to flee, breach an SCP, or harm personnel,
  • Termination for receiving 3 warnings from Testing personnel.

3.0 Foundation Personnel Rights, Freedoms, and Limitations​

3.1 Right to Self-Defense​

Foundation personnel are entitled to defend themselves in the event of an ongoing attack or if they reasonably believe they are at risk of being targeted. However, this right is forfeited if they intentionally put themselves in harm's way by instigating danger or an attack, or if they are attacked by Combative personnel. Attacking escaped Class-D individuals is not considered self-defense unless the Class-D initiates the attack.

3.2 Right to Life​

Foundation personnel have the right to live peacefully and free from unjust treatment, except in the following circumstances:

  • Engagement with or attempted interaction with an SCP,
  • Engagement in an attack causing harm, injury, or death to others, contrary to the provisions of 3.1 Right to Self-Defense,
  • Contracting a contagious, untreatable virus,
  • Posing a threat to a VIP, as outlined in 5.3 Guarding Protocol,
  • Repeated (3) non-compliance with lawful orders issued by Combative personnel,
  • Trespassing into classified areas such as restricted sectors,
  • Interference with a Recontainment Unit's ability to successfully contain an SCP after one warning, unless a warning is not feasible or the individual is intentionally obstructing the process.

Termination of Foundation personnel can only be performed by Combative or Intelligence personnel, unless in acts of self-defense,

3.3 Prohibition of Personnel Testing​

Foundation personnel must not be used as test subjects during any activities or events hosted by Testing personnel, except in the following cases:

  • The activity or event is a Medical Department check-up, and the personnel has given their consent,
  • The activity or event is a Medical Department surgical operation, and the personnel has given their consent.

This prohibition also applies to self-testing.

3.4 Prohibition of SCP Interaction​

Foundation personnel must not interact with an SCP under any circumstances, except in the following cases:

  • The individual is involved in the Recontainment Process,
  • The SCP is classified as harmless or neutralized (SCP-999, SCP-500),
  • The SCP is part of an event hosted by an authorized party and interaction is necessary for the event to proceed,
  • The individual is a member of Task Force Chi-3 "Exorcists" currently performing duties as such.

3.5 Spectating​

Testing Departments (MD & ScD) may establish their spectator guidelines within reasonable and sensible boundaries. When spectating events or activities hosted by others, Foundation personnel must comply with all orders issued by Combative personnel. Spectators who pose a threat to personnel safety or disrupt the test will be removed from the event and may face disciplinary action under 3.7 Non-Compliance.

3.6 Limitations on Freedom of Movement​

The Internal Tribunal Department has established that certain areas are restricted to personnel unless explicitly specified or authorized by a Facility Architect or higher authority. These restricted areas include:

3.6.1 Access Hall, Class-D Cells, and Testing Lobby:​

  • Access is restricted to combative personnel subject to their limitations, intelligence personnel, personnel with Level-4 clearance or higher, medical department physicians or higher, Internal Tribunal Department members or higher, and Facility Management while performing duties in official capacity.

3.6.2 Sector 3:​

  • Access is restricted to combative personnel subject to their limitations, intelligence personnel, personnel with Level-3 clearance or higher, and personnel escorted during testing.

3.6.3 Sector 4:​

  • Access is restricted to combative personnel subject to their limitations, intelligence personnel, personnel with Level-4 clearance or higher, and personnel escorted during testing.

3.6.4 Sector-X:​

  • Access is restricted to intelligence personnel, Facility Archiect or higher, and MTF Theta-5 when accompanying a Facility Architect or higher.

3.6.5 Departmental Spawns:​

  • Access is restricted to personnel belonging to the department and combative and intelligence personnel.

3.6.6 Hostile Spawns:​

  • Access is restricted to executives for moderation purposes, and combative personnel attempting to retrieve an SCP and intelligence personnel when not acting in a combative capacity.

3.6.7 Warhead Silo:​

  • Access is restricted to Facility Architects, the O5 Council, and the Administrator.

3.7 Non-Compliance​

The Internal Tribunal Department defines non-compliance as the intentional or reckless disregard of reasonable and lawful orders issued by authorized personnel, including:

  • The Internal Tribunal Department,
  • Intelligence and combative personnel,
  • Facility Architect and higher.

4.0 Testing Personnel Rights, Freedoms, and Limitations​

4.1 Definition of Testing Personnel​

The Internal Tribunal Department defines "Testing Personnel" as individuals authorized by either the Science Division, the O5 Council, or Foundation Law, to conduct tests on SCP objects, or by the Medical Department, the O5 Council, or Foundation Law, to conduct chemical and surgical operations.

4.2 SCP Testing Procedures​

Testing personnel are not required to have a specific reason for conducting SCP tests, however, they must adhere to the following requirements:

  • Request no more Class-D individuals than necessary for the test,
  • Do not enter the containment zone or interact with SCP objects. The presence of Class-D individuals is for a reason,
  • Conduct tests in a manner that does not unnecessarily endanger Class-D individuals, Foundation personnel, or Combative personnel,
  • Comply with the Science Division's guidelines for SCP testing,
  • Comply with the provisions outlined in 3.2 Right to Life (Testing) and 3.3 Prohibition of Personnel Testing and 3.4 Prohibition of SCP Interaction,
  • Follow orders issued by Combative personnel.

The Internal Tribunal Department reserves the right to terminate a test if it determines that the test poses an undue risk to the health or security of the Foundation.

5.0 Combative Personnel Rights, Freedoms, and Limitations​

5.1 Definition of Combative Personnel​

The Internal Tribunal Department has defined the term "Combative Personnel" to include the following:

  • The Security Department,
  • MTF Administration & Directorate,
  • MTF Theta-5 "Bigger Boat",
  • MTF Chi-3 "Exorcists",
  • MTF Gamma-5 "Red Herrings",
  • MTF Rho-1 "Professors".

5.2 Unregulated Terminations​

Combative Personnel must adhere to the following protocol regarding terminations that are not listed in the Code of Conduct:

  • Reasonable warnings must be given to Foundation personnel before termination occurs,
  • Warnings can be given in the form of verbal statements, warning shots, shield bashing, or detainment.

The number of warnings required may vary, depending on the situation.

5.3 Guarding Protocol​

When combative personnel are engaged in the act of guarding (i.e., protecting a VIP), they are still bound to the Code of Conduct. However, they are allowed to act with a certain degree of freedom to protect the VIP from an imminent or present threat. This may include:

  • Detaining individuals to violate their right to move freely in an area where they are authorized, to displace them from proximity to the VIP.

    NOTE: It is not permitted to detain individuals into walls, through walls, or into locations they are otherwise unable or unauthorized to be.

  • Terminating individuals on orders, thereby violating their right to life, provided that the VIP giving the order is not bound by the Code of Conduct.

5.4 Breach Protocol​

To ensure the safety of personnel and the Foundation, the Internal Tribunal Department requires all personnel to be escorted to the Breach Shelter in the event of an SCP breaching containment.

  • Combative personnel are not authorized to terminate unresponsive personnel, except in the case where they are disrupting the recontainment process,

    Personnel who feign unresponsiveness will be punished

  • Personnel who attempt to leave the Breach Shelter before the Breach - Protocol has ended will be punished for Failure to Comply (3.7 Non-Compliance).

5.5 Combative Terminations​

Combative personnel are authorized to terminate any individual who falls within the exceptions outlined in 2.1 Right to Life, 2.2 Right to Life During Testing, and 3.2 Right to Life.

6.0 Additional Clauses​

6.1 Lockdown and SURGE​

The Internal Tribunal Department hereby defines "Lockdown" as the period commencing when the first lockdown door is closed and concluding when the final lockdown door is opened. By established protocols and procedures, lockdowns may be initiated under the following circumstances:

  • There are four or more Class-D personnel engaged in rioting activities,
  • There is an ongoing breach within the Class-D Cell area that poses a threat to the safety and security of Foundation personnel, assets, and operations,
  • There has been five or more Class-D personnel who have successfully escaped their designated containment area.

Lockdowns may be terminated by an Internal Tribunal Department Lead Compliance Supervisor or higher, or any authorized personnel if the following conditions are met:

  • The lockdown has exceeded thirty minutes,
  • The lockdown was initiated within fifteen minutes of a previous lockdown.

In the event of a SURGE, the duration of the lockdown must not exceed ten minutes. If the SURGE exceeds five minutes, the lockdown must end once the SURGE has concluded. It is important to note that Class-D personnel must be given thirty seconds to return to their cells before the initiation of a lockdown, and their rights and freedoms as outlined in 2.4 Forfeit of Rights and Freedoms will be forfeited.

6.2 Solitary Confinement​

The Internal Tribunal Department recognizes the use of Solitary Confinement as a viable security measure under the purview of the Security Department and Mobile Task Forces Directorate, provided that the following conditions are met:

  • Solitary Confinement may only be applied to Class-D personnel,
  • It may only be used on repeat rioters, defined as those who have engaged in three or more incidents of rioting behavior,
  • The maximum duration of Solitary Confinement may not exceed five minutes unless this is not the individual's first sentence,
  • Solitary Confinement may only be administered to Class-D personnel currently present in their Containment Area.