View source for Punishment Appeal Manager (PAM)

= Punishment Appeal Manager =

'''[[Punishment Appeal]] Manager''', usually shortened to '''PAM''', is the CIT role that handles punishment appeals.

PAM used to be handled by regular players, but it is now a staff-side role handled by '''L3+ staff'''.

== Overview ==

PAM is responsible for reviewing punishment appeals and deciding whether a punishment:

* stays valid
* is invalid and should be removed
* needs its custom duration or severity adjusted

PAMs also review logs, proof, and staff explanations before deciding an appeal.

== Current System ==

The current PAM system works like this:

* PAM is a staff-side role
* PAM is handled by '''L3+''' staff
* there can be up to '''4''' PAMs in total
* PAMs are appointed by '''Head Staff (L4+)'''
* the majority makes the final decision
* if more information is needed, PAMs wait for the punishing staff member
* if the punisher is '''L3''', an '''L4''' staff member reviews the appeal
* a PAM decision can only be invalidated if '''2 L4+''' staff members agree

== Current PAMs ==

The current PAMs are:

{| class="wikitable"
! Staff member
! Staff level
|-
| Arnold
| L3
|-
| Darius
| L3
|-
| Bhairy
| L3
|-
| farm
| L3
|}

== History ==

The PAM system used to be handled by non-staff players.

That changed, and PAM is now handled by the staff team through the current '''L3+''' PAM system.

== Purpose of the Board ==

The punishment appeal system exists to:

* let players appeal punishments
* help players understand the rules
* reduce rule-breaking
* bring fairness and structure to player and staff punishment disputes

== Appeal Boards ==

Use the:

* [https://cit.gg/index.php?board=600.0 Punishment Appeals board]

Use the:

* [https://cit.gg/index.php?board=626.0 Bans Issued board]

for:

* normal bans
* limit bans
* fullmute bans
* mutes over '''3 days'''

== Appeal Title Formats ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Appeal type
! Topic title format
|-
| In-game punishment appeal
| <code>Punishment Appeal - Punished by [CIT]NameHere</code>
|-
| Forum warning appeal
| <code>Forum Warning Appeal - Warned by NameHere</code>
|}

== Appeal Formats ==

=== In-game punishment appeal ===

Use these fields:

* '''Your nick when you were punished'''
* '''[[Groups]] & [[Squads]] you're involved in'''
* '''When were you punished "Date/Time"'''
* '''Account name'''
* '''Who punished you'''
* '''What was the reason (rule you broke)'''
* '''Duration of the punishment'''
* '''What language is used (if any)'''
* '''Explain what happened'''
* '''Why do you think it was unfair?'''
* '''Chat Logs'''

=== Forum warning appeal ===

Use these fields:

* '''Link to forum user profile, leave this blank if you're posting from warned account'''
* '''Groups & Squads you're involved in'''
* '''When were you punished "Date/Time"'''
* '''Who punished you, if known'''
* '''What was the reason, if known'''
* '''What language is used (if any)'''
* '''Explain what happened, if known'''
* '''Why do you think it was unfair?'''
* '''Paste the exact message that you received when you received a warning'''

== Board Rules ==

Main Punishment Appeals board rules include:

* you must fill in the whole format
* required evidence must be included
* lying in an appeal can lead to instant denial and a forum warning
* you cannot appeal a punishment older than '''14 days''' unless a forum mute prevented you from appealing
* a punishment can only be appealed once
* once the topic is locked, the decision is final
* PAMs may deny appeals if you break forum rules or act disrespectfully
* trying to hinder, delay, or bias a PAM can lead to denial
* only the appellant, their representative, [[CIT Staff|CIT staff]], or people asked to reply by a PAM should post
* bans changed to admin jails cannot be appealed
* the punished person should write the appeal themselves whenever possible
* all sides should post their evidence within '''3 days''' from when the appeal was first posted

== Representatives and Posting for Others ==

Someone else may appeal or post for you only in limited cases, such as:

* you are forum muted
* you are forum banned and need an in-game punishment appeal posted

The appeal should still be written by the punished person, and the person posting it should not alter it.

If the punished person does not understand English, they may request translation only.

== Accepted Appeals ==

If an appeal is accepted:

* the punishing staff member, or an '''L3+''' or '''L4''' staff member, will be told to remove the punishment line

A punishment line is only removed when a PAM officially invalidates it.

== Client Logs ==

For appeal evidence, client-side logs are found in:

<code>MTA San Andreas 1.6 > MTA > logs > console.log</code>

== Punishment Classes ==

The Punishment Appeals board lists these punishment classes:

{| class="wikitable"
! Code
! Meaning
|-
| <code>A</code>
| Non-English in English Only Chat
|-
| <code>B</code>
| General Misuse/Spam
|-
| <code>E</code>
| Highly/Multi-Abuse
|-
| <code>H</code>
| Religious or political arguing / provoking
|-
| <code>I</code>
| Provoking/Trolling
|-
| <code>V</code>
| Insult directed at someone's real life identity
|-
| <code>J</code>
| Racial Insult
|-
| <code>K</code>
| Homophobic Insult
|-
| <code>L</code>
| Homophobic or Racial Insult directed at player
|-
| <code>M</code>
| Unguaranteed Transfer
|-
| <code>N</code>
| Part of Cyberbullying Campaign
|-
| <code>P</code>
| Threatening of IRL Violence/Crime
|-
| <code>Q</code>
| Advertising another MTA Server
|-
| <code>R</code>
| Minor Illegal Content
|-
| <code>T</code>
| Major Illegal Content
|-
| <code>S</code>
| Minor sharing or threatening to share private data
|-
| <code>U</code>
| Major sharing or threatening to share private data
|-
| <code>W</code>
| Intending to cause drama
|-
| <code>X</code>
| Harmful lying
|}

== Notes ==

* PAM is now a staff-side '''L3+''' role
* PAM used to be handled by regular players
* punishment appeals do not get answered instantly
* there is no normal player application path for PAM

== See also ==

* [[Bans Issued]]
* [[Rules]]
* [[CIT Staff]]
* [[Duties]]