The Burail Jail was established as a sub jail in 1972 and was upgraded as a District Jain in 1975. It attained the status of a Model Jail, which is equivalent to a Central Jail in 1990. In 2022, it celebrated its golden jubilee. At least two of its inmates, went on to become governors.[3]
In February 2025, the jail authorities extended STD facilities in the barracks for enabling access to the inmates to talk to their family members and relatives. In January 2023, the prison started a Millets Mithai counter at the jail's shopping outlet Nav Srijan in Sector 22, Chandigarh.[4]
In August 2022, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the District Legal Services Authority of Chandigarh released 151 prisoners from the Model Jail, Burail.[5]
In December 2020, an inmate of the jail was awarded Tinka Tinka Award for making the highest number of masks during the COVID19 pandemic.[6]
In September 2022, Institute of Correctional Administration, Sector 26, Chandigarh organised an awareness workshop on Sexual Harassment (POSH) in the Model Jail.[7]