Thinking Medieval: Prison sentences are rare

Historical Background for Medieval Prisons

  Prison sentences are pretty ubiquitous on Earth in the 21st century. Different nations and cultures have different standards for determining guilt or innocence and they have different standards for what is or is not acceptable prison, but the idea that a criminal should be locked up in a prison for a set period of time based on the nature of his or her offense is pretty common.   This was not always the case, historically.   In medieval Europe and many other preindustrial societies on Earth, it was uncommon for criminals to serve lengthy prison stays as a punishment. This generality applies to Scarterra as well for the same primary reason. The reason being is because of the medieval notion that waste is taboo.   A person imprisoned is a person who is not part of the labor force. Even if he is in a small and dingy rat infested dungeon cell, a prisoner is still going to need food, water, clothes and shelter, and this costs resources. Sturdy prison cells take up space and sturdy locks like most goods in Scarterra are made by hand. Locksmiths usually charge high prices for their services.   Prisons guards to patrol the cell blocks, serve the prisoner's meals and empty the prisoner's chamber pots. Most prison guards are soldiers, and a soldier that is guarding prison cells is a soldier that is not patrolling your borders, keeping the peace, or engaging in training exercises...as waste of resources.  

Philosophies of Rehabilitation

  A criminal that is locked up is not contributing the society. A punishment needs to be inflicted that allows the criminal to rejoin society as a productive member as quickly as possible. Or if not, the criminal needs to be removed from society.     Sometimes nonlethal corporal punishment is used. In other words, they are beaten up (which is pretty humiliating in its own way). Either way, after the shaming and/or public flogging, the punished person is expected to pick up with their life as normal.   Whatever punishment is levied, the judge in question hopes that the punishment stings enough that the criminal hopefully is too scared to ever commit a crime again. Ideally the example will deter other would-be criminals from committing a crime in the first place.      

When are people actually imprisoned?

  Scarterra doesn't have zero prison cells. They have several prisons. It's just that most of these prisons tend to be fairly small.   Many market places and guild halls have at least one small jail cell, maybe a couple of cells. These serve the equivalent of a modern drunk tank. If someone is being drunk and disorderly, they can sleep a night in the cell and then be released the next day. Basically it is a "time out" for adults. Maybe they receive a small fine or a bit of public shaming when they are released, maybe not. Military encampments might have a small brig for the same disciplinary purpose.     If the unlikely event that a town has a permanent courthouse set up, that court house probably has a couple prison cells or a dungeon. Otherwise, criminals are locked up in a dungeon or tower (the tallest tower of a castle is actually called "the don jon") of a lord's castle or manor.   A high status criminal or a non-violent offender might have some kind of house arrest. Unlike a modern house arrest, a high status prisoner is a "guest" of the person arresting them. Hostages are treated respectfully and are fed well and have a nice bed, but they cannot leave under penalty of death.   Whether a prisoner is a well-treated hostage or slapped in chains in a horrifying dungeon, the prison cell is intended as a temporary state. An accused person only stays in the cell until they determined innocent and set free or some kind of punishment is assessed. Or a person is held until friends and family pay their ransom which may be called "a fine" or a "gift" or any number of things but it ultimately amounts to a ransom payment.   A person who is stuck in dungeon cell for a long period of time usually is there due to extenuating circumstances. Usually the captor really hates the prisoner or maybe they just want to soften them up before an interrogation.