patrick.net

AmericanKulak says

Reopening for business.

Great signal of Law and Order, and fantastic bait for the Left to complain about.

Seriously? Too lazy to look it up. That was about the only positive I had going to SF. I guess why not. I remember taking the tour with some old school audio tech. My god that was a long time ago.

It's not a good idea, but it's funny to consider.

Why not?

Patrick says

Why not?

It was closed in '63 because it was expensive to run and in need of major rebuild. Since then both considerations got even stronger.

RWSGFY says

Patrick says

Why not?

It was closed in '63 because it was expensive to run and in need of major rebuild. Since then both considerations got even stronger.

That was the excuse that San Francisco hippies used to convince people. They couldn't keep inviting other Liberals to come over if that "monstrosity" sat right next to them.

OK, I can see that it's expensive. But I still like the idea of continuity of history and symbolism.

The buildings are not in good shape.
It's difficult to manage sending food, supplies, personnel, trash, etc. back and forth.
My understanding is that the place was closed because the inmates killed themselves too often.

clambo says

The buildings are not in good shape.
It's difficult to manage sending food, supplies, personnel, trash, etc. back and forth.
My understanding is that the place was closed because the inmates killed themselves too often.

And housing in SF is expensive AF, which means guards will have to be paid moar. And criminals don't need million dollar view. Arnold even wanted to move San Quentin to the Central Valley and free that prime piece of RE for development.

Run on government efficiency. Propose unnecessary costly overhaul of a state park into a boutique prison in one of the most expensive locations in the country. Nobody sees any contradiction.

Clown world.

clambo says

My understanding is that the place was closed because the inmates killed themselves too often.

I think that was a feature.

Cold, windy, clammy, spooky, foggy and they could hear and see the noises and sights of freedom that they didn't have in San Francisco. It had hardcore and most perverted of psycho prisoners. They could smell the food cooking from the SF restaurants.

Ceffer says

clambo says

My understanding is that the place was closed because the inmates killed themselves too often.

I think that was a feature.

I think we should give inmates ropes in every cell. You got to where you're at for a reason. It likely wasn't because of petty traffic stops or j walking. Let them kill themselves. Then we don't have to pay for them to be there. Also an admission of guilt technically if you off yourself.

AmericanKulak says

Great signal of Law and Order, and fantastic bait for the Left to complain about.

So bring back the electric chair or public hanging in town square!

Suggesting reopening Alcatraz is just as AmericanKulak suggested: great signal of Law and Order, and fantastic bait for the Left to complain about.
For the cost of reopening and staffing Alcatraz AND building a huge facility in central Idaho (for significant capacity), you could build an even bigger facility in central Idaho that houses 10x the population as Alcatraz. Idaho: Freezing cold in the winter and hot as heck in the summer. No Alcatraz with its multi-million dollar views.

Turist propaganda is that Alcatraz was a miserable place for prisoners. I have no doubt it was, but EVERY high-security prison is a miserable place. At least Alcatraz came with an interesting and beautiful view.

If you're ever in SF (god help you), take the audio tour. It is a lot of fun.

SunnyvaleCA says

At least Alcatraz came with an interesting and beautiful view.

Supposedly that made the prisoners more depressed, because it showed a beautiful life outside that they could not have.

Leavenworth was supposed to be the worst for climate. The guards could freeze the inmates in winter or boil them in summer. The idea is to mitigate the behavior in prison, not make them feel wonderful and comfortable. Better behavior, better conditions.

Alcatraz is spooky and must be like living in a haunted mansion. The ghosts of the Pacific rage through there like a railroad, though it can have some of the nice days, too. Wind can drive you crazy.

The 'Birdman of Alcatraz' was very popular for writing pedophile pornography for his fellow inmates.

There is one prison in Arizona that is surrounded by bleak desert, and is nearly 'escape proof' because anybody walking out of the place will be dead from exposure within a couple of days. I think the Alaska penitentiary is similar. I knew drug offenders who were in each, and when they brought the bodies back in for the prisoners to see, it was a potent deterrent to escape plans.

Ceffer says

when they brought the bodies back in for the prisoners to see, it was a potent deterrent to escape plans.

Like Rura Penthe or Salusa Secundus.

Are escapes from Federal Supermax prisons really a thing?