Alcatraz Island, perhaps the most recognizable American prison, and affectionately dubbed “The Rock,” has a storied history of American imprisonment and ingenuity. It originally opened as a federal penitentiary in 1934. At its height, it held under 300 prisoners and closed its doors in 1963. As of Monday, the facility was holding 375 inmates. Its famous security is due to its island location, icy waters, and strong currents. Alcatraz is widely seen as having been escape proof. Although five prisoners are designated “missing and presumed drowned,” no successful escapes have ever been documented.
Former President Donald Trump’s recently released proposal included a plan to rebuild and expand Alcatraz prison. So far, this announcement has prompted a uniquely enthusiastic and strongly negative response from the public. The ambitious nature of the proposal has alarmed visitors who wonder if such a large-scale project could actually become a reality. Alcatraz already attracts approximately 1.2 million tourists annually, having opened to the public in 1973 under the auspices of the US National Parks Service.
One of the most notable dissenting voices is Mike Forbes, a retired prison guard who believes in rehabilitation, not retribution. It’s personal for him, and that’s why he advocates moving away from punishment and healing communities through prevention and rehabilitation.
“I’m a former prison guard and rehabilitation is real. Punishment is best left in the past.” – Mike Forbes
Visitor sentiment clearly shows that skepticism about the practicality of refurbishing the old facility has set in. Even Ben Stripe, who had just been to Alcatraz at the time, felt that the project wouldn’t work.
“After walking around and seeing this place and the condition it’s in, it is just way too expensive to refurbish.” – Ben Stripe
Another visitor, Cindy Lacomb, agreed with Stripe’s assessment, adding that it seemed impossible to live on the island and be expected to leave.
“It’s not feasible to have somebody still live here.” – Cindy Lacomb
The future of Alcatraz is once again up in the air as the National Park Service faces a double whammy of significant funding cuts and a crumbling infrastructure. The bureau has announced intentions to close three dozen older prisons, making the task of restoring Alcatraz even greater.
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