Alcatraz Screw: My Years as a Guard in America's Most Notorious Prison

by George H. Gregory, John W. Roberts (Introduction)

Alcatraz Screw is a firsthand account from a prison guard’s perspective of some of the most storied years at the infamous U.S. Penitentiary at Alcatraz. George Gregory began his career as a guard for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1940. Following his training, he was sent to the federal prison at Sandstone, Minnesota. A few years later he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Badly wounded at Iwo Jima, he returned to Sandstone after a long rehabilitation. When the Bureau of Prisons closed Sandstone in 1947, Gregory was transferred to Alcatraz, which had been a federal penitentiary since 1934.


For the next fifteen years, Gregory worked on “The Rock.” He takes the reader along on a correctional officer’s tour of duty, showing what it was like to pull a lonely, tedious night of sentry duty in the Road Tower, or witness illicit transactions in the clothing room, or forcibly quell a riot in the cell blocks. Gregory provides an insider’s account of the tenures of all four of Alcatraz’s wardens and their sometimes contradictory approaches to administering the institution. He knew and regularly interacted with such legendary inmates as Robert Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz) and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.


Without glamorizing or demonizing either the staff or the convicts, Alcatraz Screw provides a candid portrayal of corruption, drug abuse, and sexual practices, as well as efforts at reform and unrecorded acts of kindness. Various incidents in the memoir convey the fear, hatred, frustration, boredom, and unavoidable tension of being incarcerated. With the inclusion of maps and diagrams of Alcatraz Island, as well as photographs of inmates, officers, and the prison itself, this book offers insight into life at the notorious Alcatraz from an unprecedented perspective.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Travis Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An interesting look at the life of an Alcatraz prison guard. George Gregory was on the rock in the 1940-1960's and saw a lot of changes to the institution including the big drug reform. I thought this book would be shocking and violent but it is actually not that bad, come to find out this was published by his 3rd wife after he pasted away 1997. I think if Gregory was alive he might have made the book a bit more juicy, who knows.

I really enjoyed his experiences with the prison, inmates, and the staff. It is a pretty comprehensive view of the how the Rock operated.

This book was a good way to learn a little about the old history of Alcatraz, and how a prison guard worked.

[Jason Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably like many who have read this book, I've toured Alcatraz and wanted to know more about it. It was about two years ago that I went, and since then, Alcatraz—and San Francisco, for that matter—have remained places that have kept my interest. This is the first book that I have read on the topic, though.

With only 71 ratings and 8 reviews currently on Goodreads, this book obviously isn't the most popular one about Alcatraz. I enjoyed it, though, and thought it was interesting and informative.

Author George H. Gregory was a correctional officer at Alcatraz from 1947 to 1962, working there nearly until the prison closed. His memoir discusses his time on The Rock and covers his day-to-day duties with some of his more memorable experiences. Obviously, it's difficult to summarize 15 years of your career at one of the country's most notorious prisons and put it into 250 pages or so, especially since he wrote his memoir decades later. (Gregory passed away in 1996, and his memoir was published in 2002.) Nonetheless, he writes vividly about his experiences, so much so that I felt like I was right there alongside him. Gregory seems a tad boastful in his memoir at times, but overall, it's a very engaging read and a page-turner. Recommended.

[Laura Shoults · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I visited Alcatraz a few weeks ago, and did the audio tour and attended a park ranger talk. The material that Gregory provides here is completely different, and endlessly fascinating. The writing is very readable and entertaining. The title is a little unfortunate, as a layperson would not know what a "screw" is, and might not pick the book for that reason alone. This man had an interesting perspective on being an Alcatraz guard and the US prison system in general.

[Philip Omdahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Prison Screw's Memory of Alcatraz

A CO (correctional officer) view of his assignment to the infamous Alcatraz Penitentiary. Not too gory but well versed in language a Kay person could understand. The author doesn't mince any words. I'm quite sure there is more to his story but then, other COs won't come forward. Perhaps for the best for memories of life on the Rock for some are better left unsaid.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I let this book sit on my bookshelf for so long! Maybe it was fate ensuring I read it when it was most needed. This book gave me so much but I still wanted more. If only I could talk with Mr. Gregory. I feel like he could teach me and guide me. Any law enforcement officer knows whatever you put in writing is only the surface. The real story is only shared in conversation.

[Melody Swain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one a lot more then I did. I enjoyed the different chapters on the different stories of his times at Alcatraz but found that it started to drag in more than a few places.

Overall, it was interesting to read before going to the rock, but would have like more stories behind the inmates that he was referring to.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The author is a product of the times, I doubt that prison officers could act in the same way now, but he seemed to be very effective and good in his job.
Great insight into what life was really like on "the rock"

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to read this again, I remember really liking it.

[Heather Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13242717