Meet the Reformers. A recently-made branch of the Mercykillers.
Head: Factor Katherine Beaumont-Lyon Clearwater
Nickname: Rehabs
Description: Unlike the usual branches present in the Mercykillers, this one heavily dedicates to the task of reeducating and rehabilitating criminals so that they can return to society as reformed men and women. To this purpose, the branch utilizes an occupational system that functions through small workshops within the very prison. Prisoners who show potential for good behavior, compliance and reeducation are presented an invitation to participate in the program, and upon doing so sign a contract stipulating that they will act in their best behavior, and that failure to do so will result in sentencing much worse than the original, therefore guaranteeing that those who join it do so out of genuine intent rather than to try and play around the law. In essence, it extends a helpful hand to those who have a chance to become better people, but is equally willing to swing a fist at someone who abuses that trust.
Role in the Cage[]
The way the Reformers achieve their goals is through a number of workshops located in one of the prison's many levels. These shops are guarded and observed by Katherine's trusted subordinates and come in a few different types. Some provide learning opportunities, such as teaching prisoners to read, write, as well as potential crafts that they can both learn, work and improve in during their prison time. Said workshops produce common craft goods to the city in a small amount, but heavily contribute to maintenance of prison equipment. Broken chairs, tables, things that might need repair, replacement and such, these would be helped through the workshops. A tally of the production would be marked for each prisoner, with part of it being given to the prison to aid the upkeep of supplies, and another to a reserved bank space. From there, the prisoner has two choices on what to do with his gains: They can have it sent to their family, to help support them in their absence, or they can have it stored in the bank space. The latter is then given to them once their sentence is concluded, along with a letter of recommendation from Katherine herself to assist them in finding a work craft based on what they learned in prison. Given that presently the number of participants in the program is still small, Katherine herself is the one that often the one who takes it up to the field in tasks that require the Reformers to do so. Those usually consist of checking up on prisoners who completed the program, to ensure their continued success in reformation, as well as doing what is possible to bring peace between the reformed inmates and their former victims if so is desired. In a lesser key, it also consists of hunting down those who have intentionally used both the program and other Mercykiller initiatives to abuse or go around the system, and bringing them to face the justice they sought to evade.
Philosophy[]
There is more than one way to eliminate a law-breaker. One can imprison it, one can execute it, and one can do it so that it is educated in no longer breaking the law. The latter is the goal that the Reformers seek to achieve. While they do assist in other matters in prison, and often work more delicate cases where the guilty of the subjects is not entirely clear, they primarily work with improving conditions for those who take part of the program, which both makes their lives better as well as facilitates work for the prison by means of lessened rebellious behavior, higher obedience from the participants, and a potential means of helping ensure the prison is not becoming overpopulated. While on the surface, to some, it can be seen as a 'soft touch', Mercykillers and prisoners both who are more familiar with Katherine are well-aware that while she is known to be kind and willing to give chances, she is very stern when it comes to dealing with those who try to abuse her disposition. To Katherine, there must be a balance when it comes to upholding the law, and if it consists solely of punishment and barbarism, it is only catering to one extreme, while on the other hand being too forgiving leads one to believe there are no consequences to crossing the law. Therefore, a balance must be struck, therefore the Reformers work the way they do. Prisoners who succeed at the program and carry it with good behavior will find themselves rewarded for it, while those who try to use it as a means to exploit the prison will find themselves in much tighter jaws than the ones they had previously been subjected to.