Debtors' prisons were facilities where individuals who could not pay their debts were incarcerated. This practice was common in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in Europe and America. People could be imprisoned until they either paid their debts or negotiated a settlement with their creditors. The concept of debtors' prisons has largely been abolished, as it was seen as an unfair punishment for financial inability rather than criminal behavior. Today, laws in many countries, including the United States, protect individuals from being jailed solely for unpaid debts, reflecting a shift towards more humane treatment of financial issues.