Criminal charge filed to collect civil judgment

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Question

Country: United States of America
State: Alabama

I was sued in a civil suit and lost. Once they saw I could not pay the civil suit they then filed a criminal charge against me and I had to pay or go to jail. It appears they filed a criminal charge against me to collect a civil judgment. What can I do?

Answer

They are still free to file civilly and criminally; they are two separate proceedings.