Trusty system (prison)
In the trusty system, some trusties had more power than others.  The most powerful were the "trusty shooters."  They were allowed to carry rifles and shoot at or around prisoners who made mistakes.  Sometimes they hit them with their shots.  They whipped prisoners who did not pick enough cotton in a day.  They were in charge of the inmates' barracks, fields, and the farms.  They could give punishment, and they could also suggest more punishment in the "special punishment area."