Debtors' prison

A debtors' prison is a prison for those who are unable to pay a debt. Prior to the mid 19th century debtors' prisons were a common way to deal with unpaid debt.

Medieval Europe

During Europe's Middle Ages, debtors, both men and women, were locked up together in a single large cell, until their families paid their debt. Debt prisoners often died of disease contracted from other debt prisoners. Conditions included starvation and abuse from other prisoners. If the father of a family was imprisoned for debt, the family business often suffered while the mother and children fell into poverty. Unable to pay the debt, the father often remained in debt prison for many years. Some debt prisoners were released to become serfs or indentured servants (debt bondage) until they paid off their debt in labor.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Debtors Act 1869 abolished imprisonment for debt, although debtors who had the means to pay their debt, but did not do so, could still be incarcerated for up to six weeks.

Debtors' prisons varied in the amount of freedom they allowed the debtor. With a little money, a debtor could pay for some freedoms; some allowed inmates to conduct business and receive visitors; others (for example, the Fleet and King's Bench Prisons) even allowed inmates to live a short distance outside the prison — a practice known as the 'Liberty of the Rules' — and the Fleet even tolerated clandestine 'Fleet Marriages'.

Some debtors prisoners were less fortunate, being sent to prisons with a mix of criminals. Petty criminals, debtors, vicious criminals, convicts and many more were confined into a single cell.

The father of the English author Charles Dickens was sent to one of these prisons (Marshalsea Prison), which were often described in Dickens' novels.

Notable UK debtors' prisons

• Coldbath Fields Prison, London
• Fleet Prison, London
• Giltspur Street Compter, London
• King's Bench Prison, London
• Marshalsea Prison, London
• Poultry Compter, London
• Wood Street Counter, London

United States

In 1833 the United States reduced the practice of imprisonment for debts at the federal level. Most states followed suit. It is still possible, however, to be incarcerated for debt: debts of fraud, child-support, alimony, or release fines can land a citizen in jail or prison, or prevent one’s release. The constitutions of the U.S. states of Tennessee and Oklahoma forbid civil imprisonment for debts.

Notable US debtor's prisons

• Debtors' Prison (Accomac, Virginia)
• Debtors' Prison (Worsham, Virginia)
• Debtors' Prison (Tappahannock, Virginia)

Imprisonment for debts in the modern world

Ιmprisonment for debts, whether to the tax office or to private banks, was still practised in various countries, as for example Greece, until January 2008, when the law changed after imprisonment for unpaid taxes or other debts to the government or to the social security office was declared unconstitutional after being practised for 173 years, but still retained imprisonment for debts to private banks. However, the situation regarding imprisonment (πρωσοποκράτηση) for debts to the government is still unclear, as courts continue to have this ability for criminal acts. In the United States, Tax debts will still result in prison time. Also, in the United States with the current credit bureaus there is no need for debtors prison. Under this system, a credit bureau can insure that housing and bank accounts can be denied to those who owe money.

Debtors in Dubai can be imprisoned for failing to pay their debts.

See also

• Debt bondage
• Poor Law
• Poorhouse
• Sponging-house
• Bankruptcy
• The Province of Georgia in the colonial United States, was originally intended to be settled by debtors.

External links

• http://www.apva.org/debtorsprison/
• http://www.lancastercastle.com/debtors.htm