Prisons were rare most of the ancient world and even through the middle ages in rural areas (at least in Europe). For one, it's costly to keep a prisoner. It was much easier to banish criminals than house and feed them. Either that or put them to death. For lesser crimes the criminal could work off their debt to the victim. Different cultures handled punishment in their own way but a dedicated structure to house criminals, paying for their food, paying guards to watch them, and the other costs associated, made jails unrealistic.