From riches to rape
Prologue
In the opening decades of the twenty first century society begun to develop
along new and rigid lines. The problems of overcrowding in prisons gave way to
the reintroduction of slavery. For even the slightest crime there was just the
one punishment. Violent criminals too dangerous to coexist with law abiding
citizens were packed off to designated areas surrounded by high walls, and
patrolled by heavily armed guards with strict orders to shoot on sight, any
would be escapees. Life in the compounds was grim, the authorities allowed the
prisoners to run their own affairs and mob law ruled. They were forgotten
people. Gone were the liberal ideas of the past. The concept of correction and
reintegrating offenders back into the community had been abandoned social
workers had become almost obsolete. The only contact between the prisoners and
the authorities was the daily food run and even this was escorted by armoured
cars.
Petty criminals were given the option of life within the compounds or a term of
slavery. Those that elected for slavery were fitted with pain collars to control
their actions and sent to work within their local communities. The prettier and
brighter slaves fared best, women kept in harems by the rich and famous, bright
men recruited by industry and given various fringe benefits. For the remainder
there was substance; three meals a day, a clothing allowance and long hours of
work. Such draconian measures had sent the crime figures plummeting.
Occasionally there were scandals, rich businessmen who were found to be escaped
slaves, corrupt officials who removed the collars of slaves, but in the main the
system worked well.
