> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.melonly.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Acts & Charges

> Build the acts and charges officers file under, share acts between servers, and import from Sonoran CAD.

***

## What are Acts?

Acts are the laws officers charge people under, like a traffic code or penal code. Each act has its own charge classes (like Misdemeanor or Felony) and a list of charges. You can have up to 20 acts with up to 1,500 charges each.

Open **Law** → **Acts** in the CAD admin panel. Changes are kept as a draft until you click **Save Changes** (`Ctrl` + `S`).

<Frame caption="Acts">
  <img className="block" src="https://mintcdn.com/melonly/dqMbtRYjkIqceFhq/images/CAD/Admin/Law/acts.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dqMbtRYjkIqceFhq&q=85&s=722eda5b550ecd13c1530a31a0c502ae" alt="Manage Acts list with two acts and their charge counts, and the New act button" style={{ borderRadius: '0.75rem' }} width="1918" height="989" data-path="images/CAD/Admin/Law/acts.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Creating an Act

New servers start with a Uniform Vehicle Code and a General Penal Code you can edit.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add the act">
    Click **New act** and name it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add charges">
    Click **Add charge** for each charge and fill in the fields below.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save Changes**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Use the search box to filter charges, **Sort by code** to tidy an act, and drag a charge's handle to reorder it or move it to another act.

***

## Charges

| Setting | Description |
| - | - |
| Name | The charge name. |
| Code | The charge code, for example `UVC 201`. |
| Charge Type | Criminal, Civil or Determinable. Decides the penalty fields. |
| Class | One of the act's charge classes. |

| Charge Type | Penalty fields | Use it for |
| - | - | - |
| Criminal | Fine, Jail (days), Hold For Bond, Bond Amount | Offences that can mean jail. These normally go to court. |
| Civil | Fine, Licence Points, Suspension Duration (days) | Tickets and traffic offences. |
| Determinable | Hold For Bond, Bond Amount | Offences where the court decides the penalty. |

When Hold For Bond is Yes, the person is held and a bond hearing is created for a judge. Bond fields are turned off when [Auto Prosecution](/CAD/Admin/law#auto-prosecution) is on.

<Warning>
  Deleting an act or charge class removes it from any record template charge sections that used it. See [Template Editor](/CAD/Admin/template-editor#sections).
</Warning>

***

## Sharing and Importing Acts

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Share an act with another server">
    Click **Share Act** on an act to get an 8-character code that lasts 7 days. On the other server, click **Import Share Code**, enter the code, click **Import act**, then **Save Changes**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Import from Sonoran CAD">
    Export your penal codes from Sonoran CAD as a JSON file. Click **Import from Sonoran CAD**, upload the file and click **Import penal codes**. The acts are added to your list and saved straight away. Sonoran has less detail than Melonly, so check the imported charges and fill in any gaps.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

<Card title="Need help?" icon="headset" href="https://melonly.xyz/discord">
  Still have questions? Join our Discord server for support from the Melonly Team.
</Card>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.