Peacekeepers

The Peacekeepers are a military police force controlled by the Capitol and tasked with maintaining order throughout Panem and keeping its citizens in line through survaillence and brutality. They act as police within each district, led by a Head Peacekeeper. They ensure that the Capitol's laws are obeyed and correctly punish those who break them. Punishments normally consist of public whippings, where the criminal is tied to a pole and whipped a number of times. Peacekeepers are usually equipped with automatic weapons to further discourage social disobediance among the Districts. The Peacekeepers are strict in large districts such as District 11, but in districts such as District 12, they bend the rules to satisfy their own stomachs. While all of the Peacekeepers' duties are very similar, in some districts the punishments differ; for example, during Catching Fire it is noted that various Peacekeepers from District 12 think that forty lashings for illegally hunting is much more than enough, while a District 11 Peacekeeper seems to think that forty is not enough.

Bonnie and Twill disguise themselves as Peacekeepers, dressing in uniforms from the District 8 factories in an attempt to escape from Panem. They are caught undercover by Katniss. Despite Katniss's attempts to keep them alive, they do not make it to District 13, and are presumed dead, possibly discovered by Peacekeepers.

In Mockingjay, we learn that most of the Peacekeepers are originally from District 2 where they are trained for this kind of life. It was originally thought that the Peacekeepers came from the Capitol but it was a difficult transition for those used to such a lavish lifestyle to go to living in the impoverished districts. An exception would be if a Capitol citizen was deeply in debt and had no other means of recompense. For example, Peacekeepers must be in their position for 20 years, with no marriage or children.

Peacekeepers also act as soldiers in the Capitol's army and are dressed in white uniforms with light armor. They are recruited from both the Capitol and District 2. District 2 also trains the Peacekeepers. Also, many Peacekeepers are ordinary people from the districts who have been drafted into service by the Capitol.

Simulated Peacekeepers are used in the District 13 training course.