In the past, in Western countries, it was very common to go to jail if you couldn't pay the money.
Imagine you're in an old courtroom, the judge sits high in the courtroom, holding a heavy code, and you're the debtor who has been brought to court for a debt. Your breathing is tense and rapid, knowing that if a judge declares you guilty, you could be sentenced to jail.
The judge looks at you solemnly, then looks up and begins to read out the ancient letter of the law: "According to Article 37 of this Code, any person who fails to pay his debt shall be punished in order to ensure that the rights and interests of creditors are not harmed." When you hear this, your heart sinks, because you know that your debt is overdue.
According to the court's investigation and evidence, you did fail to repay your debts on time. The judge solemnly declared, "According to the law, you will be sentenced to prison to pay off your debts." ”
In ancient times and the Middle Ages, some civilized countries practiced legal systems in which people who were unable to pay their debts were sometimes considered criminals and could be held criminally liable or even imprisoned. This practice is based on the moral conception of the debt, which holds that the debtor's failure to perform its contractual obligations is a breach of the social order and therefore needs to be punished.
However, with the development of society and the improvement of the legal system, this practice has gradually been abolished or reformed. In modern Western countries, the practice of imprisoning debtors has been generally prohibited because it violates basic human rights principles, especially when it comes to people who are poor or have financial difficulties. The modern legal system prefers to resolve debt disputes through civil procedures rather than criminal means. In addition, modern society also provides more social welfare and support mechanisms to help those who are struggling financially out of their predicament, rather than treating them as criminals and punishing them.