Penal Reserve Labor System
The Penal Reserve Labor System, PRLS (Commonspeak: Pënal Rësarv Erbites Sistem, PRES) was a penal labor system developed by the Aerlan Ministry of Labor. Developed as a way to help depopulate the severely overcrowded prisons of the nation and reduce repeat offenders, the PRLS played vital roles in helping to build national infrastructure.
History
Overcrowding in Aerlan prisons has been a common problem ever since the Republic was founded in 1709 AN. Although the main goal for the prisons are to rehabilitate, not punish, repeat offenders filled these prisons. Although a series of prison reforms were passed under the Cassian presidency, these only had minimal effect on incarceration rates.
In response, Minister of Labor Ludwig von Heinzenbusch and Minister of Justice Leon Nash both endorsed the formation of the Penal Reserve Labor System. Repeat offenders (those who had been incarcerated more than twice) to be automatically enrolled into the system, with other offenders given the option to join the system to potentially have their sentences reduced.
The system, which had begun enrolling a heavily decreasing amount of workers annually, was abolished by President Thomas Guthrie in 1750 AN.
Organization
The PRLS organized groups of 100 inmates into so-called Erbitesbatalions (Work Battalions), with each battalion given certain tasks on a work project. All work battalions were overseen by a presiding officer. Each work battalion were held in special barracks onsite when they are not on shift.
The PRLS was overseen by one of von Heinzenbush’s men, State Security Directorate Sënorinspektar Fredrick Collerman.
Jobs
PRLS laborers are key workers in the construction of infrastructure projects. For example, much of the work constructing Aerla’s rail infrastructure had been constructed by PRLS laborers, who work alongside regular paid workers. More often than not, PRLS laborers were assigned more menial tasks, such as heavy lifting.
PRLS laborers were issued with a luminescent orange vest to distinguish themselves from normal workers. In accordance with labor laws, PRLS workers were paid at a rate of Ƒ5 an hour, 7 felt less than the standard minimum wage for free Aerlans.
