Reopen Alcatraz? It was closed down on March 21, 1963, by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr. He closed it because it was too expensive to operate, too expensive to maintain, and it needed massively expensive renovations. It cost 3 times as much to house a prisoner there than it did in other Federal Prisons. It has been closed for 62 years, and it has not gotten any better in that time. It could fairly be characterized as a ruin. In the 1970’s it became a national park, and it is visited by approximately 1,000,000 people per year. Why Did Alcatraz Close Down? | Gray Line of San Francisco.
If it was expensive to operate 62 years ago, it certainly will be even more expensive to operate today. If it was too expensive to maintain 62 years ago, it will be even more expensive to maintain today. If it was too expensive to renovate 62 years ago, it will be even more expensive to renovate today.
But it’s a supermax facility, isn’t it? It is ideal for the worst of the worst criminals, isn’t it? What was passed for a supermax prison 62 years ago doesn’t quite cut the mustard for supermaxes, or even maximum-security prisons, today. The Feds already have a supermax: USP Florence ADMAX in Colorado. It would be a darn sight cheaper to expand USP Florence ADMAX than it would to resuscitate Alcatraz. I have been in some rough maximum security Federal Prisons (as a visitor), and they exceed Alcatraz as the day exceeds the night.
There is no need to reopen Alcatraz. It will be a huge money pit, the prisoners there will not be as securely encased as they will in more modern maximum security Federal Prisons, and the officers guarding them will not be as safe as in more modern maximum security Federal Prisons.
The only reason I can think of for opening Alcatraz is so that the Administration can say, “See how tough we’re being on the worst of the worst criminals?” As a public relations ploy, it might be worthwhile to reopen Alcatraz. As a fiscally responsible act, it would border on lunacy.
I thought of titling this post "Birdbrain of Alcatraz" as a tribute to both the Burt Lancaster movie "Birdman of Alcatraz" and the monumentally bad judgment it would take to seriously consider reopening the prison, but I'm trying to control my sarcastic streak.
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