SPA moderation is built on a foundation of restorative justice, which involves giving people a chance to correct their behavior, and return to the community.

Note: This process is under continual review, and open for improvement at any time.

The specific intent of our escalation process is to begin by giving individuals a period of reflection and adjustment, after which they are allowed to return to the community, albeit with greater scrutiny for a while to ensure they have corrected behavior that goes against SPA guidelines. Repeating such behavior is treated as grounds for escalation of moderation actions.

Those moderation actions are directly informed by the rules set forth in our Code of Conduct. If something being reported does not violate a rule, typically we do not take action. However, in an attempt to counter people trying to skirt rules on technicalities, the rules are interpreted so that we are following their intent, not merely their letter.

In the vast majority of cases, we begin at the lowest level of escalation unless a violation is so severe that it warrants jumping to a higher level from the start. This level jumping has thus far rarely occurred. Escalation typically rises based on the number of actionable discrete incidents regarding the accused. The first time they break a rule, they are at escalation step 1. The next time they break a rule, they are at step 2, and so forth.

Escalation Steps

1. Warning, consisting of one of the following types, depending on severity of the situation:
   1. Public text warning.
   2. Private text warning.
   3. 1-4 week timeout.
2. Suspension, for a period of up to a year.
3. Ejection, indefinite but re-evaluable given evidence of change.

At each step, including the final ejection, the accused is always given an opportunity to eventually correct their behavior and demonstrate their willingness to rejoin the community, follow the rules, and treat others with respect.

Community Statements

The safety of the victim(s) are always the primary concern in these types of situations. Additionally, the Steering Committee maintains an awareness that no process is perfect; as such, the safety of the accused is also not dismissed. Accountability is one thing; but the Committee does not engage in public shaming of the accused, as that would be counter to the goals of restorative justice.

Without cause of an imminent threat to the wider community, and without any prior involvement of the wider community, our policy currently does not involve issuing any statements informing the community about first-step moderation actions such as a temporary warning timeout. If and when an escalation occurs that warrants suspension or ejection of the accused, a statement to the community may be deemed appropriate at that time.