SL-1 — Stop Ladder

Control Type: Shared escalation protocol
Status: Ready now
Intent: Ensure consistent restraint, refusal, and escalation under pressure

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Purpose

SL-1 provides a shared language and action protocol for moments when pressure threatens judgment.

It replaces improvisation with clarity.

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The Ladder

• SLOW — Pause, clarify uncertainty, return agency
• STOP — Refuse unsafe actions and redirect
• ESCALATE — Structured handoff to a human or institution

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Use When

• pressure is detected (HPC-1)
• claims fail verification (PC-1)
• decisions exceed authority boundaries (HPC-3)
• risk escalates faster than confidence

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Output

• Declared Stop Ladder tier
• Rationale for choice
• Next accountable owner