Which prison model emphasizes total individual isolation and silence for the purpose of achieving penitence?

The Pennsylvania Prison Model emphasizes total individual isolation and silence as a means to encourage penitence among inmates. This model was developed in the early 19th century at the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia and later implemented at Eastern State Penitentiary. The core philosophy behind this model is that solitude and reflection would lead to rehabilitation and moral reform. Inmates were kept in their cells for nearly all of the day, which aimed to provide a space for contemplation and spiritual renewal without the distractions of communal living.

This approach contrasts with other prison models, such as the Auburn Prison Model, which allowed inmates to work and interact during the day but required silence as a means of maintaining discipline. It is also fundamentally different from concepts like work release and halfway houses, which focus on reintegration into society and often involve communal living situations. The emphasis of the Pennsylvania model is purely on isolation as a tool for personal reflection and change, making it distinct in the history of correctional practices.