Debtor’s Prison (historical)

Historically, debtor’s prison was a facility where individuals who owed money and couldn't pay were imprisoned until their debts were settled or arrangements made. This practice was common in Europe and North America from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. It was based on the idea that imprisonment could motivate debtors to pay, but it often trapped impoverished individuals, preventing them from earning wages to clear their debts. Over time, legal reforms abolished debtor’s prisons, emphasizing that debtors should not be punished with imprisonment but offered alternative means to settle debts.