Alcatraz (The Rock) - San Francisco, CA - Retired Prisons on Waymarking.com

Alcatraz operated as a United States Penitentiary from 1934-1963. The first prisoners began arriving in August 1934. Among the first to be sent to Alcatraz were Al Capone, Doc Barker (the last surviving son from the famous Ma Barker Gang), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert "Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud, Floyd Hamilton (a gang member and driver for Bonnie and Clyde), and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis.

Prisoners would have to “earn” their transfer to Alcatraz from other prisons, and no one would be directly sentenced to Alcatraz from the courts. Inmates who sought an attorney to represent them while incarcerated at Alcatraz would have to do so by direct request to the Attorney General. All privileges would be limited, and no single inmate, regardless of his public stature, would be allotted special rights or freedoms. There was a ratio of one guard to every three prisoners on Alcatraz, as compared with other prisons, in which the ratio exceeded one guard to every twelve inmates. With the Gun Galleries at each end of the cellblocks and the frequent inmate counts (twelve per day), the guards were able to keep extremely close track of each and every inmate. Because of the small total number of prisoners at Alcatraz, all of the guards usually knew each inmate by name.

Perhaps one of the greatest ironies of Alcatraz was that the frigid and treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay, which had proved to be the ultimate deterrent to escape for nearly three decades, would eventually contribute to the downfall of America's super-prison. Following the escape of Morris and the Anglins, the prison fell under intense scrutiny due to its deteriorating structural condition and the diminishing security measures that had resulted from governmental budget cuts. However, this development should not be credited entirely to the escape, since many of these decisions were already in process before the attempt was made. The corrosive effects of the saltwater, combined with the exorbitant cost of running the prison ($10.10 per prisoner per day, as compared with $3.00 at USP Atlanta, not including the estimated 5 million that would be required for restoration), provided U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy with grounds for closing the prison. On March 21, 1963, USP Alcatraz closed after twenty-nine years of operation.

Information taken from (visit link)

Address: Alcatraz Island Golden Gate National Recreation Area San Francisco, CA USA 94123 Open to the public: Yes Hours: Summer Schedule (May 12 - Oct 26) 9:00 AM to 9:25 PM Fees?: Adult (18-61) $24.50 Junior (12-17) $24.50 Child (5-11) $15.25 Senior (62+) $23.25 Toddlers (0-4) Free Family (2A+2C) $74.50 Web link: Not listed

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