penal servitude

Penal servitude was a form of punish­ment in which a person convicted of a crime was required to perform hard labor, often for long periods, typically in a prison setting. It served as both a punishment and a deterrent, involving physically demanding tasks like manual work. Historically used in various legal systems, penal servitude aimed to punishment offenders while also potentially benefiting society through their labor. Today, this term has largely been replaced by modern sentences such as imprisonment or community service.