Three factors ensured this justifiable fame: the location of the prison, its strict disciplinary rules and the large number of guards. “Alcatraz is an island surrounded by very cold waters and strong sea currents – this made it difficult to escape. But more important was the number of guards, a much larger proportion than in other prisons. There was an average of one guard for every seven detainees”, says the American Craig Glassner, in charge of the island of Alcatraz at the National Park Service of the United States.
The prison operated on the island located in the bay of San Francisco, California, 2 km from the coast. See below.
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The history of this mythological fortress gained strength in 1934, the year Alcatraz became a maximum security penitentiary, receiving the most violent criminals in the United States. So much security came at a high price: an inmate held there cost up to three times as much as in other federal prisons. Because of this, the US government decided to close Alcatraz prison activities in the 1960s – the last prisoners left the island in 1963. In 1972, the island was turned into a tourist spot, receiving 1 million visitors a year. In the nearly 30 years that the prison has operated, 34 inmates have tried to escape. Officially, no one has.
Mission Impossible
Powerful sea currents and super-enhanced surveillance inhibited escape attempts as much as possible.
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1) BIG BROTHER
Six watchtowers, made of steel and bulletproof glass, were installed at strategic points on the island. From there, armed guards controlled the movement of Alcatraz 24 hours a day. In order not to distract their attention, they were forbidden to read or listen to the radio on duty.
2) WEEKLY RECREATION
On weekends and holidays, well-behaved prisoners frequented a cement yard surrounded by 20-foot-tall walls and barbed wire. There, they would spend several hours playing checkers, dominoes or sports such as baseball or basketball.
3) LIVE THE JOB!
Working was a privilege for well-behaved prisoners – those who didn’t work spent the whole day locked in their cell, only going out for meals. Much of the work took place in the laundry room, where inmates washed prison and military clothes.
4) GIVING LIGHT
In this building was the power plant, which used oil to generate electricity and drive boilers. There were also pumps that drew water from the sea to fight fires and flush toilets.
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5) IN THE LOCK
Each common cell measured 3 m long by 1.5 m wide. Inside, the cell had a sink with running water (and cold), a toilet and a small bed. The electronic lock system was activated by the guards
7) BLACK HOLE
Fighting prisoners went to the 42 solitary cells in block D. One of them was nicknamed “the naked cell”. All made of steel, without a sink or toilet (the toilet was a hole), it received prisoners naked for a day or two, in a cold and dark environment.
6) BEHIND THE WALL
Common cells were concentrated on the two floors of blocks B and C. This area had 336 cells with a capacity of one man each. But they were never crowded: the number of inmates at Alcatraz was around 250 men.
8) IN THE SIGHT OF THE COPS
Guards working with detainees did not carry weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of detainees. But at the ends of the main building were raised galleries with armed police who could open fire in an emergency.
9) ENCOURAGED MENU
The cafeteria was a super dangerous sector, as prisoners could use cutlery as weapons. To quell disturbances, tear gas launchers were installed on the ceiling of the hall. The menu was quite varied to avoid rebellions.