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Graduated Sanctions

Design Note: A contribution system must have clear consequences when members break rules, deliver poor quality work, or attempt to exploit the system. But these consequences should be graduated — starting light (warnings, revisions, withheld rewards) and escalating only if issues persist (reduced reputation, suspension, removal).

Graduated sanctions balance fairness and accountability. They recognize that mistakes happen and contributors should have room to learn and improve. At the same time, sanctions deter abuse and protect the integrity of the system. In Matou DAO, sanctions should be transparent, proportional, and culturally appropriate, ensuring contributors are held accountable without diminishing anyone mana (dignity).

Relevance to Contribution Systems:

  • Protects integrity: Stops repeat offenders from undermining trust in the system.
  • Encourages learning: Light initial sanctions give contributors the chance to correct mistakes.
  • Deters free-riding: Contributors know poor conduct has visible consequences.
  • Reinforces fairness: Everyone plays by the same rules; no favoritism in applying consequences.
  • Cultural legitimacy: Consequences are grounded in community values and relational accountability, not just technical enforcement.

Matou DAO Implementation:

Membership:

  • Contributors must agree to codes of conduct and contribution rules during onboarding.
  • Each contributor’s profile shows sanction history (warnings, suspensions, etc.) to maintain transparency.

Activity:

  • Contribution briefs specify what happens if requirements are not met (e.g., revision requests, no reward for incomplete work).
  • Repeat failures reduce the chance of being selected for future contributions.
  • Sanctions are tied to contribution outcomes, not arbitrary judgment.

Technical:

  • Smart contracts can block CTR issuance for contributions flagged as incomplete or rejected.
  • UTIL payouts can be withheld or reduced automatically if reviewers flag “partially complete” status.
  • Dashboards display anonymized statistics on sanctions to show system-wide accountability.

Cultural:

  • The Elders Council and community stewards may intervene for breaches of community values or trust.
  • Sanctions follow a principle of restorative justice: offenders are encouraged to reflect, reconcile, and return, rather than being permanently excluded for minor mistakes.
  • Hui (community meetings) may be used to mediate serious cases, reinforcing collective responsibility.

Operational:

  • Graduated Levels of Sanction in Matou DAO:

    • Level 1 (Light): Reviewer requests revisions; contribution returned for improvement.
    • Level 2 (Moderate): UTIL reward reduced or withheld until standards met.
    • Level 3 (Serious): CTR not issued; contributor reputation stagnates.
    • Level 4 (Severe): Temporary suspension from registering new contributions.
    • Level 5 (Final): Governance vote or Elders Council action for removal in cases of fraud, cultural harm, or deliberate sabotage.

  • Steward Responsibilities: Community and/or Project Stewards must document sanctions and link them to verifiable evidence.

  • Appeal Path: All sanctions can be challenged via the conflict resolution process (Principle 6).