A prison intended to be, or regarded as, a model in organization, conditions, etc.; (formerly) specifically a prison having a regime emphasizing the separate confinement and reformation of inmates (also called separate prison).
Origin
Mid 19th century.
Definition of model prison in US English:
model prison
noun
A prison intended to be, or regarded as, a model in organization, conditions, etc.; (formerly) specifically a prison having a regime emphasizing the separate confinement and reformation of inmates (also called separate prison).