The Most Famous Prison Of The United States - 1255 Words

Alcatraz was one of the most famous prison in the Unites States, located in the Californian San Francisco Bay. The prison was renowned for being inescapable, and the m0ost high security prison of the time. This probably was due to it’s location, which was on Alcatraz island, located around a mile away from shore, surrounded by the supposedly shark infested, strong currents, ice cold water of the bay. Today, the prison is only used as a tourist attraction, a mere shadow of what it once was. (Deconstructing History: Alcatraz, History, www.history.com, AE television network, 2016, USA) Alcatraz first used as a military fort for the Civil War in 1854. In 1861, a military prison was added to the fort, holding the criminals of the troops. The†¦show more content†¦In Alcatraz, most Alcatraz guards and their families lived on the island. The wives, children, and any other family members of the guards who lived on the island would take a ferry or boat to the port of San Francisco when they needed to go to school, work, or just to go into town. Guests of children and other residents were allowed to visit the families of the island, but with inmates, they were only allowed one visit per month, each visit had to be approved directly by the warden of Alcatraz. In this visit, physical contact between the inmate and visitor was prohibited, as well as any discussion of current events. The conversations were held via an intercom system, and an officer would usually be monitoring the conversation, though, sometimes the officer would fail on this task. If there was any so rt of inappropriate act or breaking of rules during these visits, the inmate would lose the privilege of monthly visits, or possibly be put under some other form of punishment. I managed to get ahold of one of the ex-residence of Alcatraz. Ernest Lageson was the son of one of the many guards of Alcatraz, and he lived on the island for around two years when he was 10-12 years old. Mr. Lageson said that while there wasn’t often a large amount of contact with the inmates, occasionally the kids and other residence had the chance to speak with or see ‘TheShow MoreRelatedThe History of Alcatraz789 Words   |  3 PagesLife on Alcatraz Prison was not as bad as the people described it to be. For the prisoners Living on Alcatraz was similar to life on other American penitentiaries of the era. It wasn’t the brutal hellhole many movies made it look like it was. Each prisoner swept his cell clean, dressed, and then stood ready for head count. Then all marches to the mess hall for break feast before moving on to work out in the docks in the laundry area, or out in any of the other buildings in the island. 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Discovered in 1775 by the Spanish explorer Juan Miguel de Ayala, La Isla de los Alcatraces was little more than a rockRead More Attica State Prison Uprising September 13, 1971 Essay851 Words   |  4 PagesAttica State Prison Uprising September 13, 1971 George Jackson the most famous political prisoner in the 70s and leader of the Black Panther Party was incarcerated at San Quentin Prison in California. He was killed by the State on August 21, 1971. Because of this Attica inmates organized a hunger strike and wore black arm bands. George Jacksons revolutionary writings in his book he had written Soledad Brother; was passed from inmate to inmate inside Attica State Prison, which had anRead MoreAttica Prison Riot and Prison Reform1362 Words   |  6 Pagesthem the most horrible fates and to rot in the caged institution they are forced to call their new home. But, where do we draw the line of cruelty to those who are some of the cruelest people in our country? 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