Onlookers were intrigued by Alcatraz in 1962, following a botched escape. Recently, President Trump voiced his intention to reopen Alcatraz with the goal of ‘imprisoning the most perilous offenders a great distance from others to eliminate potential harm.’ This unexpected statement left many wondering about its serious implications. Currently, the US government sends its most formidable convicts to a supermax penitentiary near Florence, Colorado, often referred to as the ‘Alcatraz of the Rockies.’ Here, notorious criminals such as Zacarias Moussaoui, El Chapo, Eric Rudolph, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev face confinement conditions far more severe and relentless than anything ever endured in Alcatraz.
A day following the initial announcement, President Trump justified his assertion, labeling Alcatraz as ‘ultimate,’ particularly for its ‘absolute power pertaining to law enforcement.’ He referenced movies about the prison and botched escapes, stating, ‘It epitomizes both dreadful and magnificent elements, demonstrating strength and despair, frailty and vigor, thus displaying various impressive qualities.’ This invokes the enduring influence of Alcatraz on the American psyche, serving as a potent metaphor for an uncompromising, publicly punitive form of justice.
Alcatraz has always been, and continues to be, as much a concept as a location. The notion of Alcatraz was always complemented by an element of fantasy. It might seem otherworldly to associate ‘fantasy’ with a supermax prison, but this sense of fascination is fueled by Hollywood and popular culture’s depictions of Alcatraz. Consequently, many partake in this constructed illusion.
However, President Trump’s ambition to reopen Alcatraz appears improbable for myriad reasons. Besides the exorbitant expenses and dilapidated infrastructure, there are practical issues that render such an effort impossible. For starters, the island lacks a source of potable water. Moreover, essential resources to support life on the island, ranging from food and water to fuel, must be transported via boat or barge.
When examining the prison’s origins, the iconic cell house of Alcatraz, which rests upon steep cliffs in the heart of San Francisco Bay, wasn’t initially conceived as a symbol. The primary building was erected in the early 20th century to accommodate the surge in military prisoners arising from the Spanish-American War. Only later, in 1933, did the narrative begin to emphasize the impossible nature of escape from Alcatraz, when the Justice Department assumed control.
In reaction to the rising crime rates during the prohibition era, the Department of Justice sought a suitable location to securely confine gangsters, bootleggers, kidnappers, and adept escape artists whom state and inferior federal prisons failed to retain. Alcatraz, despite its significant drawbacks, was chosen, primarily because of financial constraints in 1933. The infrastructure already existed, it could be modified for increased security at a comparatively low price, and the foreboding concept of ‘island prison’ was deeply ingrained in the public’s mind and readily invoked.