Been wondering, if for example you committed a crime in Antartica, what would happen to you? Are you going to be deported back to your country or serve jail time in Antartica?
In: 759
Depends on where you’re from.
For example, The Antarctic Act 1994 extends the laws of every part of the United Kingdom to UK nationals in Antarctica. Additionally, the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory may enact laws for the territory.
Americans have The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 (enacted 12 October 1984) which covers crimes committed by Americans or crimes committed against Americans. Any American who is outside of the United States, but not in another country, is still subject to certain U.S. laws. All Americans committing a crime, and any foreigner committing a crime against an American outside of a sovereign state, are subject to prosecution in a U.S. federal court. This includes international waters and Antarctica. Although nations claim territory in Antarctica, the United States does not recognize these claims.
This theory was tested not too long ago in 2018 when a stabbing occurred at the Bellingshausen Station, a Russian research station on King George Island. The perpetrator was Sergey Savitsky who stabbed Oleg Beloguzov. Savitsky surrendered to the manager of the station and, 11 days later, was placed on a flight back to Russia where he was placed on house arrest. February 8th, 2019, Savitsky was at a preliminary hearing at the Vasileostrov District Court of Saint Petersburg. Savitsky was remorseful and was willing to accept a criminal punishment rather than rehabilitation. Beloguzov was forgiving of Savitsky and proposed dropping the case. The public prosecutor was supportive of Beloguzov’s proposal, and noted that Savitsky was remorseful and had no prior criminal record. Judge Anatoly Kovin decided to drop the case.
The USAP station manager in McMurdo is deputized by the US Marshals and has the power to arrest someone if necessary
well if that crime is sexual harassment, then nothing…
https://www.npr.org/2022/09/01/1120518369/antarctica-sexual-harassment-assault-nsf-report
[Here’s ](https://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-anarctica-stabbing-books-20181030-story.html) a story about someone stabbing a coworker at a Russian research station for spoiling books to him. He was deported back to Russia where he went on trial.
It wouldn’t happen. They screen everyone before allowing them to join a guided tour at the ceremonial south pole. No one is allowed to just wander onto Antartica uninvited. Being beyond the 60th parallel south, use of deadly force is authorized.
In general international treaties say that that person is prosecuted by and in their home country
It is not like you can hide in the wilderness there. You will have eventually have to go to a base to get arrested.
If a body falls in an icy wasteland and no one is around to see it, did it happen?
E: Tried a play on the “If a tree falls in a forest” quote. For those that thought I was serious
[This BAS scientist/pedophile was arrested when he returned home to the UK](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31943320.amp)
How does the jail time work there do they take the sun as the way to calculate the days like regardless of how much jail time you’re given it automatically means it’s a life sentence lol
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