Disciplinary & appeals procedure

Purpose

The disciplinary system exists to protect members, encourage accountability, and maintain a respectful gaming environment.

Standard responses

1. Informal warning: used for minor first-time violations.
2. Documented warning: used for repeated minor violations or more significant misconduct.
3. Temporary restriction: a proportionate timeout, channel restriction, or event suspension.
4. Final review: senior command reviews repeated misconduct and determines next steps, including a final warning or temporary suspension when appropriate.
5. Removal: removal or banning may occur for serious or persistent misconduct.

Severe violations may warrant immediate protective action. The response depends on severity rather than requiring every step in sequence.

Fair review

Before imposing significant disciplinary action, staff should:

1. Review available evidence.
2. Consider relevant context.
3. Avoid conflicts of interest.
4. Document the reason and applicable rule.
5. Notify the member when appropriate.
6. Provide an appeal opportunity where appropriate.

Staff should not handle appeals involving their own conduct. Reports and completed disciplinary records belong in authorized private channels, not public pages.

Appeals and response times

Members may submit an appeal within 30 days of receiving a disciplinary decision.

An uninvolved officer should review the appeal when possible. Appeals should receive an initial response within seven days, subject to staff availability.

Use the private support process and include the decision, relevant context, permitted evidence, and requested outcome. The Ban appeal template is available for ban-related decisions.

Reinstatement

Former members may request reinstatement after 30 days unless their removal notice specifies otherwise. Reinstatement is not guaranteed. Severe safety violations may result in permanent exclusion.

Temporary bans expire according to their specified terms. See the Ban & blacklist policy for blacklist review and approval requirements.

Prohibited disciplinary reasons

Members must not be punished solely for:

• Failing to recruit.
• Joining another gaming community.
• Being a casual player.
• Missing an optional event.
• Having legitimate school, work, health, or family commitments.
• Respectfully appealing a decision.