How would Equestria handle unicorn criminals?

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

There are laws and penalties for every crime you can imagine. But that can't be a deterrent, because unlike us, unicorns should be able to use their telekinesis to get away with anything. Magic leaves no traceable evidence behind, and Equestria's forensics science is already most likely lacking in comparison to ours.

If unicorns want to rob a bank, the can teleport the money to their possession without anyone noticing. If they want to commit a murder, they can off a pony with magic bullets. 

 

I just don't see how they can get caught. How would the local pony police deal with them?

[SolarFlare13 16,113]

If the local pony police could somehow learn to use dark magic, I think this would be the most effective method dealing with Unicorn Criminals. Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle (as far as I know) were the only known magic users to use dark magic and seeing how dark magic can be used to render Unicorn magic useless (Like how King Sombra did to Shining Armor), I think this is the perfect solution to dealing with Unicorn criminals 

Edited June 20, 2016 by SolarFlare13

[PoisonClaw 8,174]

On the contrary, I personally think magic does leave a trace behind, a magical signature if you will. Plus, in a world where at least one third of the population can use magic in any number of ways, who says their forensic abilities aren't up to the task? 

 

In banks, build the vault out of a material that disrupts magic. If none exists, use an anti-magic field similar to the ones seen in The Equestrian Games. 

[Castle Bleck 19,447]

They have anti-magic stuff (Sombra's crystals, the Equestria Games scanners, The Smooze's residue, etc.) in Equestria, you know.

 

Not to mention the eventual fate of the villains in Friends Forever #25.

Edited June 20, 2016 by A.V.

[cmarston1 5,964]

I don't the Equestrian law force is actually used very much.

If someone like Starlight Glimmer can get away scott free for her actions, I find it hard to believe that there is any line to be crossed when it comes to committing crimes.

[twiia 1,844]

Have unicorn police trap them down with magic and capture them, then saw off the criminal's horn.

[GreyScholar 1,584]

Starlight Glimmer being easily forgiven I feel is a major problem, as too there being no punishment for her actions. Her redemption in general was gravely mushandled.

 

Heck even Trixie got away for her actions without consequence when it came to the Alicorn amulet becoming a dictator in a single day.

 

Also don't give me it the the amulet controlling her and thus not her fault. If someone chose to get drunk, drives and then hits someone they are still at fault. Or someone who uses illegal drugs and commits a crime while under the influence, they too are also still punished. Trixie chose to buy the Alcorn amulet, despite the warnings given to her, and chose to put it on. Thus her actions are her fault, as simple as that.

Edited June 20, 2016 by EquestrianScholar

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

On the contrary, I personally think magic does leave a trace behind, a magical signature if you will. Plus, in a world where at least one third of the population can use magic in any number of ways, who says their forensic abilities aren't up to the task? 

 

In banks, build the vault out of a material that disrupts magic. If none exists, use an anti-magic field similar to the ones seen in The Equestrian Games.

The main advantage we have with our technology is it helps us process data. Magic can't do that. Any evidence gathered in Equestria would still have to be analyzed by scientists who specialize in many related practices, and even then, they're stuck with using primitive methods. The furthest Equestria has even gone tech wise was creating arcade games for Button Mash to play with.

 

As for magic signatures, there hasn't been any evidence to suggest it's linked to a pony's DNA. And it usually dissipates once telekinesis is stopped.

 

Starlight Glimmer being easily forgiven I feel is a major problem, as too there being no punishment for her actions. Her redemption in general was gravely mushandled.

Heck even Trixie got away for her actions without consequence when it came to the Alicorn amulet becoming a dictator in a single day.

Also don't give me it the the amulet controlling her and thus not her fault. If someone chose to get drunk, drives and then hits someone they are still at fault. Or someone who uses illegal drugs and commits a crime while under the influence, they too are also still punished. Trixie chose to buy the Alcorn amulet, despite the warnings given to her, and chose to put it on. Thus her actions are her fault, as simple as that.

Maybe the ponies are just more forgiving in general? You can't punish anybody if you don't press charges. But had Starlight or Trixie used their magic to kill anyone, I bet they'd have to spend the rest of their lives as fugitives, dodging every major city that had their faces on wanted posters.

[GreyScholar 1,584]

@,

Yes, but there is a difference between forgiving someone and still punishing them for what they did. Heck, neither even got community service or were put on probation.

 

Also, Equestria is a world with magic all around it. With each race having there own magic and a third able to cast spells. I find it reasonable that their forensics team would have unicorns who specialized in spell able to help identify criminal whether they be other unicorns or any other race. Seriously, in a fantasy setting you must consider the world as if it was one who as adapted to magic in their everyday life. Even perhaps, with scientists or inventors who blend magic with technology. That is what is most logical.

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

@,

Yes, but there is a difference between forgiving someone and still punishing them for what they did. Heck, neither even got community service or were put on probation.

 

Also, Equestria is a world with magic all around it. With each race having there own magic and a third able to cast spells. I find it reasonable that their forensics team would have unicorns who specialized in spell able to help identify criminal whether they be other unicorns or any other race. Seriously, in a fantasy setting you must consider the world as if it was one who as adapted to magic in their everyday life. Even perhaps, with scientists or inventors who blend magic with technology. That is what is most logical.

I'm sure they would have been punished if the damage they did wasn't reversible. Trixie and Starlight could have gone full-Hitler and gassed every pony that didn't kneel down and kiss their hooves. There's no way they'd ever get a pass for something like that.

 

But even a smaller scale crime like armed robbery shouldn't be overlooked. Could you imagine the sentence imposed if something like this happened, and a few ponies died from it?

Edited June 21, 2016 by Lord-Pomegranate

[chaosprincess 1,067]

I would say use other unicorns to bind their magic I could be wrong, but if their magic was binded they would be easier to retrieve due to they depend on their magic as a way to escape and without it all they have is their legs to run since they would not know earth pony magic due to being a unicorn, but on the other side note I suppose they could have studied other magic, but doubts are there.

[Babyyoshi309 1,829]

Do you not remember in the "Equestria Games", they had those gates that disabled unicorn magic in order to prevent cheating. They could easily do the same thing with prisons. Though that is only if they really need to. Only really powerful Unicorns would be able to escape prisons with magic. Cause remember in "A Dog and Pony Show", the Diamond Dogs put Rarity in prison. She was unable to escape using magic (or maybe she just didn't try, not really sure).

[KillerKingBakudan 702]

Do you not remember in the "Equestria Games", they had those gates that disabled unicorn magic in order to prevent cheating. They could easily do the same thing with prisons. Though that is only if they really need to. Only really powerful Unicorns would be able to escape prisons with magic. Cause remember in "A Dog and Pony Show", the Diamond Dogs put Rarity in prison. She was unable to escape using magic (or maybe she just didn't try, not really sure).

Yeah, but the subject behind the OP is what they would use to put them in those prisons. 

[Justin_Case001 4,933]

If Equestria was actually real, I could kind of see unicorns becoming a problem akin to mutants in X-Men.  The difference is that unicorns and magic aren't something new to Equestrians that's just coming to light, but if magic based crime were to rise, I could see it leading to war.  But Equestria is so much nicer than the real world, so that probably wouldn't happen.

[heavens-champion 1,907]

Have unicorn police trap them down with magic and capture them, then saw off the criminal's horn.

Can't you just use a spell to take away their magic?

[cider float 2,539]

Probably have horn suppressing devices for that.

 

Maybe some kind of kryptonite stone that can suppress magic like Sombra's black crystals.

Edited June 21, 2016 by cider float

[Scootaloo9074090 502]

On 2016-06-21 at 10:04 AM, cider float said:

Probably have horn suppressing devices for that.

 

Maybe some kind of kryptonite stone that can suppress magic like Sombra's black crystals.

or saw off their horn.

[Evil Pink One 13,550]

turn to stone... works well...

[Astralshy 29,298]

Well there is Tartarus which kept Lord Tirek for a very long time. Other option would also be  like @Kujamih or @Scootaloo9074090 said, but these options seems pretty harsh for this society of loving ponies - so this will be more the exception than the rule. For the most criminals a magic suppression spell would be the perfect fit. I don't think such a spell was directly shown or talked about but there was at least a magic detection spell (Equestrian Games?) I think Celestial also cast a spell on the Elements of Harmony so Discord could not hide them anymore. And of course there is this changeling crystal which suppressed all other magic. They even used this shards in season 9 to make the castle more secure. I think this would be the way they would go. Or there is really a spell ponies can cast on universe to prevent magic

[ZiggWheelsManning 13,287]

We wouldn't.  We just look at the ground and admit we failed to bring justice  

[Fluttershutter 2,920]

Tennis balls! 

Nah, what PoisonClaw said.

On 2016-06-20 at 6:17 AM, PoisonClaw said:

On the contrary, I personally think magic does leave a trace behind, a magical signature if you will. Plus, in a world where at least one third of the population can use magic in any number of ways, who says their forensic abilities aren't up to the task? 

 

In banks, build the vault out of a material that disrupts magic. If none exists, use an anti-magic field similar to the ones seen in The Equestrian Games.