War crime

A war crime is a serious violation of the laws and customs of war, giving rise to individual criminal responsibility. Under Union law, even if legal (or a non-capitol crime under civilian law), war crimes are always punished by the death penalty.

War crimes are defined in Union Law which includes:

Grave breaches of the War Conventions, such as: The following acts as part of an intersocietal conflict (e.g. Union vs GC):
 * Willful killing, or causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health of a combatant
 * Torture or inhumane treatment
 * Unlawful wanton destruction or appropriation of property
 * Forcing a prisoner of war to serve in the forces of a hostile power
 * Depriving a prisoner of war of a fair trial
 * Unlawful deportation, confinement or transfer
 * Taking hostages
 * Firing upon a Combat Medic with clear insignia

The following acts as part of an internal conflict (e.g. rebellion, civil war, etc.): However the Union court only has jurisdiction over these crimes where they are "part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes". Individual crimes are normally tried by military courts martial.
 * Directing attacks against civilians
 * Misusing a flag of truce (perfidy)
 * Settlement of occupied territory
 * Deportation of inhabitants of occupied territory
 * Using nuclear, biological or chemical weapons
 * Using civilians as shields
 * Using child soldiers
 * Murder, cruel or degrading treatment and torture
 * Directing attacks against civilians
 * Taking hostages
 * Summary execution
 * Pillage
 * Rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution or forced pregnancy