I read somewhere there are different types of prisons. what's the point of them if we always have the option to just pay a fine? unless you want to experience the prisons of course.

there should be certain crimes like murder that sends you straight to prison without the option to just pay a fine. (bribery is separate) is this in and I just don't know ?

what do you think ?

It would sort of make sense if a small town had a little jail with only a few cells and a major city has a full blown dungeon.

Maybe the true prison experience? Don't drop the soap around the orcs and shank the first bosmer you see when you enter the joint.