Legal Definitions - carcelage

Definition: Carcelage is a historical term that refers to prison fees. The word comes from the Latin word "carcer," which means "prison."

Examples:

• A person who was imprisoned in the past would have to pay carcelage fees to the prison authorities.
• Carcelage was a common practice in Europe during the Middle Ages.

The examples illustrate how carcelage was a fee that prisoners had to pay for their incarceration. It was a way for the prison authorities to make money and cover the costs of running the prison. The practice of carcelage was eventually abolished in many countries, as it was seen as unfair to charge prisoners for their own imprisonment.