Alcatraz Essay -- essays research papers

Alcatraz United States Penitentiary1934-1963As a result of the Great Depression, a upstart breed of violent woefuls swept the streets of America. In response to the cries of alarmed citizens, Congress enacted a number of statutes, which gave the federal government jurisdiction over certain criminal offenses previously held by the states. With the suggestion of former US Attorney General, Homes Cummings, Congress agreed that a special penal institution of maximum security and lower limit privilege be established. In 1934, the legendary US Penitentiary of Alcatraz was born and became the home of Americas most wanted for the next thirty years.Once authorized by Congress, the US Department of Justice acquired control of Alcatraz Island, previously a US Army compound. As the island was redeveloped into a maximum-security prison, seven of its twelve acres were enclosed in a prison compound. The remaining five were set aside for employee residences, apartments, and recreational space. So on after the redesigning of the old Army fortress, the Alcatraz prison was ready for the grand hypothesis (or better said lockout). Equipped with four different cellblocks, A, B, C and D, the Rock began its operations on January 2, 1934. Although cellblock A was seldom used, B, C and D provided 378 cages to obtain the most notorious felons that America could produce.The first of four wardens to take charge of the penitentiary was a retired, professional administrator named James A. Johnston. ...