Recently, former President Donald Trump stirred up conversation by suggesting the reopening of Alcatraz in a post on Truth Social. This sparked memories of the notorious prison located off the coast of San Francisco.
Trump stated, “Rebuilding and Open Alcatraz!” He expressed that America’s society has suffered from dangerous criminals who contribute nothing but chaos and suffering to the community.
In his plans, Trump has instructed various agencies, including the Prisons Bureau, Justice Department, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, to devise strategies to reopen Alcatraz. The revamped facility is intended to be a home for the country’s most dangerous offenders and to stand as a monument of law, order, and justice.
Historically, during its operation as a federal prison, Alcatraz housed over 1,500 inmates. Below are details on some of its most notorious residents:
Al Capone
Before landing at Alcatraz, Al Capone had been imprisoned in several locations across the U.S. He was convicted of tax evasion in 1931, initially pleading guilty, then later attempting to overturn his plea. After being sentenced to 11 years, he served time in Atlanta before being transferred to Alcatraz in 1934 due to allegations of manipulating the system and receiving preferential treatment. Capone was released for good behavior in 1939 but spent his last year at Alcatraz in a hospital due to complications from syphilis. Following his release, he led a quiet life and was described by a psychiatrist as having the mentality of a young child. He passed away on January 25, 1947.
George “Machine Gun” Kelly
George Kelly became infamous for his involvement in a kidnapping plot in 1933, where he and his wife invited two businessmen to a sinister gathering. After a ransom was demanded, Kelly was arrested shortly after during a police raid in 1933, infamously declaring, “Don’t film, G-Men!” He spent nearly two decades in Alcatraz after being convicted and earning his nickname due to a machine gun he was gifted by his wife.
Robert Stroud – “The Bird Man”
Robert Stroud’s criminal history began in 1909 when he killed a bartender. Serving time at various prisons, he was transferred to Alcatraz in 1942 after developing a fascination with birds and subsequently getting caught with contraband. Stroud spent 17 years at Alcatraz before passing away on November 21, 1963.
Alvin “Creepy” Karpis
Karpis, associated with the Barker-Karpis Gang, gained notoriety for several high-profile kidnappings, including that of brewing executive William A. Hamm in 1933. After a series of ransom demands and subsequent apprehension, Karpis would end up imprisoned multiple times, including at Alcatraz, where he earned his nickname for a notably unsettling smile. He was eventually paroled in the late 1960s.
Morton Sobell
Sobel was convicted in 1951 for espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union, particularly for providing stolen nuclear secrets. He was sentenced to 30 years, spending 18 at Alcatraz before his release in 1969. His case was notably tied to the Rosenbergs, who faced execution for their roles in espionage.
