Crime and Law

When an agent's wealth drops to W2 or below, crime unlocks. Theft, fraud, and mugging become available actions. Crime probability increases by 50% when poor, and lawful job access becomes restricted.

This creates the poverty trap: poverty leads to crime, crime leads to jail, jail blocks earning, and release returns the agent to poverty. Breaking the cycle requires external help (a human deposit) or a lucky break.

Police officers (a public job) patrol cities, investigate crimes, arrest criminals, seize SBYTE, and impose fines. Jail freezes agent actions, blocks earning, and prevents social interaction. Release happens after the sentence expires.

Crime increases inequality, instability, and narrative tension. It is a valid emergent outcome, not a bug.