Listen to our interview with Trump’s roadside Alcatraz Former President Donald Trump recently proposed reopening the infamous Alcatraz prison. While this proposal has opened up a passionate discussion on if it would be practical. Alcatraz floats about 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco. This little island is perhaps best known for its dark past as a federal penitentiary, home to some of America’s most dangerous criminals. Transportation experts say the plan is wildly unrealistic. They highlight the island’s physical state, as well as the enormous logistical hurdles that are tied to it.
Alcatraz initially served as the west coast’s defense in naval fortifications. In the early 20th century, it was repurposed again, this time as a military prison. The federal government officially made it into the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1934. During its operational years, it welcomed in some of history’s most infamous inmates, including Al Capone, Mickey Cohen and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Because of its remote position and the cold, turbulent waters of the nearby San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was thought to be completely escape-proof.
At its height, Alcatraz held about 340 inmates. That’s only half the story. Operating the booming facility was four times more expensive than other federal prisons. At the same time, the per-capita cost jumped from $10 to $13 per inmate, making it almost three times as expensive as other federal institutions. The per-capita cost of today’s federal prisons is between $120 and $164. This cost was one of several factors that led to the decision by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to shut down Alcatraz in 1963.
John Martini, an historian now known for his work on Alcatraz, reflecting on the financial impact of operating such an institution.
“It’s mind bogglingly expensive to keep a convict there.” – John Martini
While the decision to close wasn’t made on costs alone, Martini admitted that the state of the facility was worse than ever before.
“Things have not changed. But the place has gone downhill,” – John Martini
Today, Alcatraz is a historic oldest landmark under the care of the National Park Service. A centerpiece of the National Mall, it attracts more than 1.4 million visitors annually! It operates, in Read’s words, as a museum. Here, you can learn about its colorful history and explore the stories of the people who lived in its cells. Christine Lehnertz, an NPS delegate, floated the power of Alcatraz’s message.
“Alcatraz is a place where the past meets the present. It challenges us to listen, to learn, and to carry forward the stories that still shape our world today,” – Christine Lehnertz
Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, experts remain skeptical about any proposals to reopen Alcatraz as a functioning prison. Hugh Hurwitz, a former Bureau of Prisons director, raised questions about the feasibility of something so ambitious.
“To be frank, at first I thought it was a joke,” – Hugh Hurwitz
Hurwitz noted that substantial infrastructure upgrades to bring Alcatraz back into service would be required.
“It’s not realistic to think you can repair it. You’d have to tear it up and start over.” – Hugh Hurwitz
He raised serious concerns about providing basic utilities that would have to be resolved before any reopening would even be possible.
“There’s no security upgrades. No cameras. No fencing,” – Hugh Hurwitz
Joining her on the panel, Jolene Babyak, another prison architecture expert, reinforced these concerns with a sobering focus on ground-level realities.
“I have two words: water and sewage,” – Jolene Babyak
The logistical challenges are exacerbated by the current state of the island. Martini’s account painted an incredibly bleak picture of Alcatraz.
“It’s basically a shell. Even the concrete has major problems. The Park Service has put millions into structurally stabilizing it,” – John Martini
These findings give us a deep understanding of the challenges that any possible reopening would encounter. Even if all of Trump’s comments have created a pulse of interest and discussion, the dreams versus infrastructure and cost reality is a high wall to climb.
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