In a not-too-distant future, the United States has taken a radical approach to cracking down on crime. In addition to using torture devices, prisons are allowed to perform experiments, such as not allowing inmates to speak at all through their entire sentence. But the most dramatic (and popular) experiment of all is the Chain-Gang All-Stars: televised gladiator-style fights to the death. Prisoners opt into the program, because in the unlikely event they survive on the circuit for three years, their sentence is over and they are free. While in the program, they are called Links and they live with a small group of others called a Chain; they do not have to fight those on their Chain and may even fight doubles matches with someone from their Chain, so some form friendships or even romantic relationships within them. Because the show is so popular, Links who win many fights can be awarded sponsorships and are also given points with which to barter for certain privileges, from access to footage of their future opponents’ past fights to better weapons.