Alcatraz Prison - Research Paper Example

Alcatraz is located on Alcatraz Island, which is right outside San Francisco Bay. It earned its name from Juan Manuel de Ayala who named the island La Isla de los Alcatraces, which means island of the pelicans. Since its creation Alcatraz has served as an institution for multiple prisoners such as a military prison and then as a federal prison. The earliest history has the island serving as a prison for those in the Civil War. After serving as a military prison, it was turned over to the federal government in 1933.

During this time it housed some of the most dangerous criminals of all time. It was closed in 1963 and now serves as a historical site, which can be toured by the public. In 1847, the United States Army began a topographical survey of the island assessing it’s potential due to the fact it was isolated, small, and had relatively little flora and fauna. The United States Army Corps of Engineers was called in and began construction of a military fortress. Another reason that the United States created this as a military prison was due to the fact that it had extremely strong and freezing currents, which would prevent escape of prisoners.

It has housed military prisoners not only from the Civil War, but also from the Spanish-American War. It was considered a harsh facility due to the fact of military discipline and corporal punishment. The cellblocks in the island were divided into three levels and each level housed criminals who did a particular crime. There were also perks and privileges that were associated with each level i.e. Reading time, being able to write letters, etc. Unlike traditional prisons today in which inmates spend a majority of time in their cells, the military prisoners were only allowed to return to their cells in order to sleep.

During the day, they were on work details in which they would be assigned work details based on their skill level and what was required, not unlike how duties in the military are assigned today. The decline of the military presence was actually due to public dislike. They felt that the sterility and harshness of the island was an eyesore and wanted it renovated to look more pleasing. Unfortunately, this was also the time where the Great Depression was starting to set in and the military abandoned its investments there as it was closed in 1934 (“History of Alcatraz Island”).

Before the prison could start taking on civilian prisoners, the federal government had to convert it and make sure that the island was reformed so that no prisoner could escape. It would end up costing the federal government around $260,000. The military buildings were renovated and new technology such as thicker windows and better bars were implemented to replace the outdated materials. There was also limited travel allowed and/or near the island. The restriction was only for government owned ships to come near the island.

Thick iron gates were placed which kept everything contained and was only accessible via keys that the guards had. Electricity was rewired into all of the cells, as unlike the military counterparts, the prisoners, especially the dangerous ones, would be housed there. Prisoners also had access to a library, which contained many different types of literature that a person could read. There were also other amenities such as services and a chaplain that were