Here’s what being a prisoner in Alcatraz
was like! Find out why it ended up closing! Alcatraz Beginnings
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary or The Rock, was a maximum-security federal prison on Alcatraz
Island located roughly one and a quarter miles off the coast of San Francisco. The prison operated from August 1934 all the
way until March 1963. That’s almost 60 years ago! But why are people still fascinated with this
prison despite being shut down for many years? It’s because of its reputation of supposedly
being an escape proof prison! Given its high security and the island's location
in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, it was believed that Alcatraz
was America’s strongest prison at the time. Alcatraz had been the site of a fort since
the 1850s; the main prison building was built in 1910–1912 as an Army military prison. The island became a federal prison in 1934
after the old buildings on the island were modernized and security increased. Alcatraz was home to some of America's most
ruthless, such as Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Mickey Cohen, Whitey Bulger, and
Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, who served more time at Alcatraz than any other inmate! Alcatraz Prisoners
Alcatraz wasn’t for just any normal prisoner. It was used to hold prisoners who continuously
caused trouble at other federal prisons. The convicts housed in Alcatraz weren’t
necessarily prisoners who had committed the worst crimes. They were the convicts most in need of a so-called
“attitude adjustment”. These were the guys with the worst behavior
at other prisons, such as guys that bribed guards or guys that attempted escapes. A trip to Alcatraz was intended to get them
to follow the rules so that they could eventually return to other federal prisons. On average, an inmate would spend about eight
years at Alcatraz. There were only two men ever paroled directly
from Alcatraz into the free world. Most of the prisoners would be taken back
to other federal prisons. According to past correctional officers, once
a convict arrived on Alcatraz, his first thoughts were on how to leave! A total of 36 prisoners made 14 escape attempts,
with two men trying TWICE! Everyone that’s tried to escape has been
accounted for except for five men. They’re still listed as missing or presumed
drowned! Alcatraz cellhouse
Alcatraz consisted of several big facilities on the island. The main cellhouse was built incorporating
some parts of Fort Alcatraz's citadel. A new cellhouse was built from 1910–1912
on a budget of $250,000 thousand dollars a hefty amount at the time. The 500 foot long concrete building was reputedly
the longest concrete building in the world at the time. This building became the main cellhouse of
the prison until its closure in 1963. Alcatraz corridors
Alcatraz cellhouse had a corridor naming system based on major American streets and landmarks. Michigan Avenue was the corridor to the side
of A-Block, and Broadway was the central corridor where inmates would assemble. Times Square was an area that was just before
inmates would enter the dining hall for their meals. Broadway separated Block-B and Block-C and
prisoners kept along this corridor had the least privacy in the prison. The corridor between Block-C and the library
was called Park Avenue. The corridor in D-Block was named Sunset Strip. And nope, none of the prison was as glamorous
as these names! Basic Entitlements
Inmates were entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else was seen as a privilege. Everyone wore the same clothes – a blue
shirt, grey pants, cotton long underwear, socks, and a blue handkerchief. When it came to their appearances, it was
mandatory for all prisoners to shave in their cells three times a week. Toilet paper, matches, soap, and cleanser
were issued to the cells on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Pretty much everything else was considered
contraband. Even money wasn’t allowed! The bars, windows, and floors of the prison
were cleaned on a daily basis. In earlier years, there was a strict code
of silence. NO one was allowed to talk to anyone, at any
time! By the 1950s, this rule had relaxed and talking
was permitted in the cellhouse and the dining hall provided that the conversations were
kept relatively low. Scheduling
Prisoners used to be woken up at 6:30 in the morning and sent to breakfast at 6:55. After returning to their cells from breakfast,
inmates had to tidy their cell and place their trash outside. At 7:30 am, work shifts started. Working at the prison was considered a privilege
for inmates. If an inmate is assigned a job, he HAD to
accept that line of work. Of course, they weren’t allowed to have
any money in the prison. Instead, their earnings went into a prisoner's
Trust Fund. Many of the better inmates were employed in
the Model Industries Building and New Industries Building during the day. These prisoners actively involved in providing
for the military in jobs such as sewing and woodwork. They also performed various maintenance chores
around the prison. Smoking was another privilege that was permitted
in the workplace providing there wasn't any hazardous condition. Lunch was served at 11:20 in the morning,
followed by 30-minutes of downtime in the cell before returning to work until 4:15 in
the afternoon. Dinner was served at 4:25 and the prisoners
would then retire to their cells to be locked in for the night at 4:50. They got locked in before 5 in the afternoon! Lights off was at 9:30 at night. After locking in the prisoners for the night,
6 guards usually patrolled the four cell blocks. A total of 13 official counts were made throughout
the day. In addition, shop foreman made their own verification
counts. Sunday and holiday routines had their own
schedules, with time reserved for haircuts, showers, clothing changes, and recreation. Many prisoners have compared their time at
Alcatraz as the worst thing they’ve gone through. The hardest part for a lot of them was the
never-changing ROUTINE! One former prison guard compared his prison
job to being a zookeeper or a farmer. According to him, it felt like the prisoners
were treated like animals. Because he was sending them out to basically
"plow the fields" during the day, and then he would round them up and feed them before
locking them down for the night! That’s one way of thinking about the situation! Security at Alcatraz
So how tough was this legendary security in Alcatraz? When Alcatraz was built, the authorities took
measures to strengthen the security of the prison cells to make Alcatraz "escape-proof". But they also wanted to improve the living
conditions for the staff. Up-to-date technologies at the time for enhancing
both security and comfort were added to the buildings. Guard towers were built outside at four strategic
locations. Cells were rebuilt and fitted with tool-proof
steel cell fronts and locking devices operated from control boxes. That way, cell doors could just be locked
down immediately, or all doors could be opened immediately. All windows were made covered with iron grills
and the front door was made of solid steel, virtually impossible for any prisoners to
escape through. Electromagnetic metal detectors were placed
at the entrances of the dining hall and workshops, with remote-controlled tear gas canisters
at appropriate locations. Who knew they had this tech back then! Old tunnels were also sealed up with concrete
to avoid hiding and escaping. Substantial changes and improvements were
made to the housing facilities for all the prison staff to live with their families. As you can imagine, the quality of the housing
was relative to the rank. The warden had one of the biggest private
properties on the island. Prisoner Assessment
Prisoners entering Alcatraz would undergo vigorous research and assessment. They’re thoroughly checked and evaluated
when they first arrive. Obviously they’re checked for contraband
and also their mental state. Once in, the security was kept extremely tight
at all times. Guards kept up with constant checking of bars,
doors, locks, and electrical fixtures. On top of that, prisoners were counted 13
times per day! And if that wasn’t enough, the ratio of
prisoners to guards was the lowest of any American prison at the time. The island had many guard towers, most of
which have since been demolished. There was always SOMEONE at the guard towers. And this is especially true when the prisoners
weren’t locked in their cells. For example, there were guard towers overlooking
each of the industrial buildings to ensure that inmates didn't try to escape during the
workday shifts. The recreation yard and other parts of the
prison had a 25-foot fence topped with barbed wire, just in case someone tries to escape
during free time. The corridors were regularly patrolled by
the guards, with passing gates along them. The most heavily trafficked corridor was "Broadway",
the central corridor between Block B and Block C. Other prison staff also used the corridor
daily, and not just the guards. This meant that there was always someone passing
by. And check this out! At the end of each meal, which only lasted
for 20 minutes, ALL of the forks, spoons, and knives were laid out on the table. Why? So guards can carefully count each one to
make sure that no utensils had been taken as a potential weapon! Target Practice
One of the strangest routines has to be with the guards. They always held target practice right outside
of the cell house. This was an almost nightly occurrence after
the men were locked in their cells. Guards would go out and start shooting at
dummies to practice in case they actually would have to take shots at someone attempting
an escape! When the target practice happened at night,
prisoners weren’t able to sleep. Can you imagine trying to sleep with all those
shots going on? And, the guards always shot at dummies made
in human likeness. Once the practice was done for the night,
the dummies were left sprawled along the walkway. This was OBVIOUSLY done as a tactic in order
to send a hard message to anyone that’s thinking of attempting anything. Cell Life
Life at Alcatraz came with its challenges. The prison cells were purposefully designed
so that none of them adjoined an outside wall. They typically each only had 45 square feet
of space. They only had a tiny bed with a blanket, a
desk, a sink, and a toilet on the back wall. An air vent covered by a metal grill was at
the back of the cells. These vents led into the utility corridors. This was useful for some prisoners! Find out about the real truth behind escaping
from Alcatraz in this video! Prisoners had zero privacy using the bathrooms. Yeah, the stench in the prison had to be bad! Hot water faucets weren’t installed until
the early 60s, even though the prison closed in 1963!
Alcatraz had a very strict regimen of rules and regulations as well as the daily routine. Both the prisoners and the guards had to follow
strict orders in order to make sure the prison ran smoothly and safely. Once a prisoner arrived at Alcatraz, he’d
be given a copy of the rules to learn and follow. Cells were expected to be kept tidy and in
good order. Inmates could actually request hot water and
a mop to clean their cells! Visitors & communication
Inmates were allowed to write only one letter of not more than two pages each week. AND, that letter HAD to be to a blood relative,
so no one random. As for original incoming letters, they never
actually get to see the original copy. All their mail was opened and they only received
copies typed at the prison office. Visiting also was as regulated as you would
think. No visitor was permitted to have any contact
with an inmate. Each person was granted one visit per month
and each visitation had to be approved directly by the Warden. Rules dictated that inmates weren’t allowed
to discuss current events or anything about prison life. Between the prisoner and the visitor there
used to be a screen and glass, and the conversation was done through an intercom. Correctional officers monitored the conversations
the majority of the time. Alcatraz Captain Phil Bergen stated that they
didn't always have time to monitor every single one of the conversations, but the vast majority
of visits were closely tracked. If a prisoner didn’t follow the rules, he
wouldn’t be allowed any more visitors! Simple as that! Food
Mealtime was a whole process at Alcatraz! A whistle system indicated which block and
tier of men would move in and out of the dining hall. The whistle also indicated who sat where,
where to place hands, and when to start eating. Each dining table had benches that held up
to six men, although smaller tables that seated 4 people later replaced these benches. Reportedly, the food served at Alcatraz was
the best in the United States prison system, so that’s one nice surprise! A breakfast menu is actually still preserved
on the hallway board at alcatraz, dated March 21st 1963. The breakfast menu included assorted dry cereals,
steamed whole wheat, scrambled eggs, milk, fruit, toast, bread, and butter. Inmates were permitted to eat as much as they
liked within 20 minutes, provided that they didn’t leave anything to waste. Waste would be reported and if it happened
often, inmates would lose different privileges! All of the prison population, including the
guards and officials would all eat together, with the dining hall being able to accommodate
over 250 people. The Yard
The Recreation Yard was the yard used by inmates. It’s basically the most freedom inmates
were allowed to have in the prison, but of course, they’re still under constant supervision. Inmates were permitted out into the yard on
Saturdays and Sundays and on holidays for a maximum of 5 hours. Those who worked seven days a week in the
kitchen were rewarded with short yard breaks during the weekdays as well. Many of the inmates used weekends in the yards
to catch up with each other and talk and scheme about whatever. It was the only real opportunity they had
during the week for a quality conversation. Sports
And yep, you guessed it, badly behaved prisoners had their yard access rights taken away from
them on the weekends. The yard was big enough for the inmates to
play games such as baseball, softball, and other sports. Because of the small size of the yard and
the diamond at the end of it, a section of the wall behind first base was actually padded
to cushion the impact of inmates overrunning it! You would think that gloves, bats, and balls,
would be considered dangerous, but apparently it wasn’t. Alcatraz Reputation
Alcatraz gained notoriety right from the beginning as the toughest prison in America. Former prisoners reported that Alcatraz tested
their sanity, with lengthy solitary confinements being one of the worst forms of punishment. Was it true that inmates were locked in dungeons
for punishment? Well, sort of. Remember, the cellhouse had been built on
top of a 19th-century fortress that was used by the US military to protect the Bay. Below A-Block actually was a set of cells
that were known as the Spanish Dungeon. These cells had been used during the military
prison era. In the late 1930s, supposedly the dungeon
cells were occasionally used for unmanageable inmates! Many correctional officers have agreed that
they had heard of or were aware that some extremely unmanageable inmates were handcuffed
to bars in the dungeons for short periods of time. The prison's reputation wasn’t helped by
the arrival of more of America's most dangerous felons, including Robert Stroud, the "Birdman
of Alcatraz," in 1942. He entered the prison system at age 19, and
never left, spending 17 years at Alcatraz. One writer called Alcatraz as quote "the great
garbage can of San Francisco Bay, into which every federal prison dumped its most rotten
apples." However, despite its reputation, some prisoners
reported that the living conditions there were much better than most other prisons in
the country, especially the food. Why the reputation? The truth is, Alcatraz was fine. IF you behaved. If not, then it’s basically as bad as it
can get. The discipline dished out at Alcatraz was
probably as severe as it could have possibly been back then. The most common complaint was the rule of
silence, which was discontinued in the late 1930s. In the earlier years of Alcatraz, inmates
were supposed to be absolutely silent except during meals and recreation periods. The silence rule was considered harsh and
inmates were disciplined for even minor violations of the rule. It was so bad that some inmates commonly emptied
out water from their toilets and created a primitive communications system through the
sewage piping! Inmate Insights
What were the GOOD things about Alcatraz? According to former inmate Willie Radkay,
it was actually a great advantage having your own cell. By having your own cell, it kept you safe
from other inmates. AND there was still a little bit of privacy. He also stated that the staff treated the
inmates respectfully although they rarely spoke to each other. While Alcatraz certainly wasn’t St Regis,
its tough-as-nails reputation was a bit of a Hollywood creation. Alcatraz’s first warden, James A. Johnston,
knew poor food was often the cause of prison riots, so he prided himself on serving good
food to the inmates. And that’s why inmates essentially had an
all you can eat with no waste policy. Overall, some prisoners considered the conditions
inside Alcatraz to be more attractive than at other federal prisons, and many inmates
actually asked to be transferred to alcatraz! Library
Inmates who behaved had access to privileges that included monthly movies and books. The prison has its own library with over 15,000
books and a lot of popular magazine subscriptions. Inmates would place orders by putting a slip
with their card in a box at the entrance to the dining hall before breakfast, and the
books would be delivered to and from their cell by a librarian. Books and magazines were carefully curated. Anything crime-related were torn out of magazines
and newspapers were actually banned. Music hour
Alcatraz went from a place where inmates couldn’t talk to a prison where there’s a music hour! Every night, inmates could play a stringed
instrument from 5:30 to 7:00. Alcatraz also allowed prison bands, and they
practiced in the dining room or auditorium during music hour. Al Capone famously practiced playing his banjo
in his cell. Capone was in prison for tax evasion and arrived
at Alcatraz in 1934 as convict #85. He became a cooperative prisoner and that’s
why he was allowed to play in the prison band. The Rock Islanders would play Sunday night
concerts for the other inmates. But, that band ended when Capone got into
a fight with the saxophone player! Guard Life
Convicts weren't the only ones living on the island. The guards and their families lived there
too. At any given time, there were around 300 civilians
living on Alcatraz that included both women and children. Families of the guards enjoyed their own bowling
alley, small convenience store, and soda fountain shop. Families did most of their shopping on the
mainland since the prison boat made twelve scheduled runs to the Van Ness Street Pier
each day. The Warden lived in a large house adjacent
to the cell house and actually had inmates with good conduct records come over and cook
and clean. Kids that lived on the island took a ferry
to school every day. Nothing was produced or grown on the island,
so a boat ride was required for anything on the island. Alcatraz Closing
So why did Alcatraz shut down? Basically it was just too expensive to house
the inmates! Operationally, Alcatraz was the most expensive
prison of any state or federal institution. It was determined that other institutions
could serve the same purpose for less cost. Watch this next video to find out about the
Untold Truth About The Escape from Alcatraz!
