⚖️ Law and Order in 2045
“Justice is a luxury. Most of us can’t afford it.”
Law enforcement in Night City is a patchwork of underfunded police, corporate security, and street justice. What passes for order depends entirely on where you are and how much money you have.
Deep Dives
🚔 NCPD (Night City Police Department)
Overview
| Aspect | Reality |
|---|---|
| Funding | Severely underfunded |
| Equipment | Outdated, insufficient |
| Morale | Low |
| Corruption | Widespread |
| Effectiveness | Variable by zone |
Priorities
NCPD focuses resources on:
- Corporate Center (highest priority)
- Executive residential areas
- Tourist zones
- Commercial districts
- Industrial areas (low priority)
- Combat Zones (no presence)
Typical Officer
- Underpaid and overworked
- Basic cyberware (if any)
- Standard weapons
- Knows they can’t win most fights
- Often on the take
Placeholder: NCPD officers (pg. 304)
⚡ MAX-TAC (Psycho Squad)
Purpose
Maximum Action Tactical Division—elite unit specifically for cyberpsycho threats.
Capabilities
| Aspect | Level |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Military-grade |
| Cyberware | Extensive |
| Training | Elite |
| Authority | Shoot on sight |
| Lethality | Extreme |
Operations
When called:
- Respond in force
- Authorized lethal force immediately
- No negotiation
- Collateral damage accepted
- Few targets survive
The Irony
Many MAX-TAC officers are themselves borderline cyberpsychos:
- Extensive combat cyberware
- Multiple kills
- Questionable humanity
- One bad day from becoming targets
🏢 Corporate Security
Extraterritoriality
Major corporations exist outside national law:
- Corporate ground is sovereign territory
- Corporate security has full authority
- No NCPD jurisdiction
- Internal justice systems
Forces
| Level | Capability |
|---|---|
| Security guards | Basic |
| Response teams | Combat-trained |
| Corporate Solos | Elite |
| Military assets | Full military |
Justice
Corporate justice for corporate crimes:
- Internal investigation
- Corporate courts
- Punishments range from firing to death
- No outside appeal
🗡️ Street Justice
Combat Zones
In Combat Zones, law is:
- Gang rule
- Might makes right
- Community consensus
- Swift and brutal
Common Punishments
| Crime | Punishment |
|---|---|
| Theft from gang | Death or severe beating |
| Disrespect | Violence |
| Murder | Retribution from victim’s people |
| Informing | Death |
⚔️ Cyberpsychosis Response
What is Cyberpsychosis?
When cyberware pushes someone past their mental limits:
- Loss of empathy
- Violent episodes
- Disconnection from humanity
- Extreme threat to others
Response Protocol
- NCPD first: Often outmatched
- MAX-TAC called: If NCPD can’t handle
- Suppression: Usually lethal
- Therapy Team: Rare capture for treatment
Survival Rates
| Outcome | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Killed by MAX-TAC | ~70% |
| Killed by NCPD/civilians | ~15% |
| Captured for treatment | ~10% |
| Escaped | ~5% |
🎲 GM Resources
Law Encounters by Zone
Corporate Zone:
- Security checkpoints
- ID verification
- Quick response to incidents
- Professional conduct
Secure Zone:
- NCPD patrols (daytime)
- Response time: 5-15 minutes
- May not engage serious threats
- Willing to be bribed
Combat Zone:
- No official law presence
- Gang patrols instead
- Justice is immediate
- Outsiders are targets
NCPD Response Table
| 2d6 | Response |
|---|---|
| 2-3 | No response |
| 4-5 | Response in 30+ minutes |
| 6-8 | Response in 10-20 minutes |
| 9-10 | Response in 5-10 minutes |
| 11-12 | Immediate response |
Modify by zone: Corporate +4, Combat Zone -6
🔗 Related Topics
(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pgs. 302-306)