Law Handbook

The rules and roleplay standards expected across Brandywine.

Last Updated: 4 September 2026

Important Information

The Sheriff's Department can be an excellent source of roleplay for all players, criminals, civilians and law. We would always encourage those in the department to prioritize roleplay and allow stories to grow and continue, a fun and enjoyable scene doesn't have to end in a gunfight or arrest. The notes below are just guidance, you can choose how to play your character, run your department and how your story goes.

Document Index

Law Handbook

Purpose The Sheriff’s Department exists to maintain law and order, protect life and property, and uphold state law.

Rank Structure

Sheriff: Head of their associated State’s Sheriff’s Department.
Undersheriff: Second-in-command to the Sheriff Assumes command of the department in the absence of the Sheriff.
Senior Deputy: Responsible for supervising deputies and recruits during patrols and operations.
Deputy: Fully admitted member of the Sheriff’s Department authorized to perform regular law-enforcement duties.
Recruit: Probationary member of the Sheriff’s Department that is supervised on duty at all times by a Deputy.

General Conduct

Law enforcement are expected to remain professional and use their lawful authority to a legitimate, reasonable extent during the execution of their duties.

Arrest Procedures

Arrests require probable cause or an active bounty for the state they are in.

Deputies must clearly state:

That the suspect is under arrest
The reason for arrest

Use only the necessary force required.

Use of Force

Law Enforcement are authorized, under law, to use reasonable force to carry out their lawful duties. This includes adequate escalation, de-escalation and appropriate methods of detention.

Detention

While under temporary, or long-term, detention, prisoners must be given adequate food, water and reasonable access to medical care.

Confiscation

Any belongings taken from a suspect must be clearly recorded and secured. The responsibility for the belongings is assumed by the deputy completing the search. Any belongings taken from the suspect are therewithin under the responsibility and ownership of the department until their destruction or return.

Warrants

Warrants authorize the arrest or detention of a named person or the search of a specified person, property or premises. Warrants require probable cause and may only be approved by a Sheriff or Undersheriff.

The warrant must state

The person, property or premises covered
The suspected crime to which evidence is to be collected for
The Undersheriff and or Sheriff who has authorized it
The expiration date, 9 days from the date of issuance

If a warrant needs to be extended or adjusted in any way, this must be re-authorized by the Sheriff or Undersheriff.

Bounties

Bounties may be issued when there is probable cause to believe a person or organization has committed a crime. These are appropriate when a moderate to severe crime has been committed, or a string of crimes for which a criminal has not been arrested for and the arrest warrant for these crimes has expired. As with arrest warrants, a bounty may only be authorized by a Sheriff or Undersheriff and the reward may not exceed $300

Discipline

Sheriff’s and Undersheriff’s are expected to reprimand, suspend or dismiss employees as and when required as part of their management duties. Dismissal must be authorized by the Sheriff, whilst the Undersheriff can temporarily suspend in the Sheriff’s absence. Members may be disciplined for misconduct, corruption, abuse of authority, neglect of duty, insubordination, or repeated failure to follow department procedures.