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Alcatraz: The Gangster Years
Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis, "Dock" Barker—these were just a few of the legendary "public enemies" for whom America's first supermax prison was created. In Alcatraz: The Gangster Years, David Ward brings their stories to life, along with vivid accounts of the lives of other infamous criminals who passed through the penitentiary from 1934 to 1948. Ward, who enjoyed unprecedented access to FBI, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Federal Parole records, conducted interviews with one hundred former Alcatraz convicts, guards, and administrators to produce this definitive history of "The Rock." Alcatraz is the only book with authoritative answers to questions that have swirled about the prison: How did prisoners cope psychologically with the harsh regime? What provoked the protests and strikes? How did security flaws lead to the sensational escape attempts? And what happened when these "habitual, incorrigible" convicts were finally released? By shining a light on the most famous prison in the world, Ward also raises timely questions about today's supermax prisons.
584 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 25, 2018
We went to San Francisco in October and took the Alcatraz tour. Until that point, I had not really know much about Alcatraz beyond the general "it's the prison for the worst of the worst" and that it was on an island. The tour was fascinating (complete with headsets and audio from interviews with ex-prisoners) and I wanted to know more about the history of the institution. Ward's book appealed (out of the MANY) because of its sociological perspective. I also believe the audio tour might be composed of clips from the interviews conducted for the U of Minn study that comprised Ward's data.
The book itself was very interesting and detail rich, but excessively long. The analysis is only about 50 quick pages at the end, but the bulk of the book details the highlights of action at Alcatraz (including work strikes, escape attempts, and the 2 day gun battle that ensued). Although this is a non fiction account and Ward repeats many specific details throughout, at times it reads like a novel.
Ultimately, Ward's conclusion is for the criminals imprisoned at Alcatraz during the Gangster Years (1934-1943), recidivisim was lower (36.8%) than expected for inmates in any prison at the time. He emphasizes that the factors involved include outside support (family and employers) post-release and the aging of the inmates, but also indicates that the program at Alcatraz and its monastic environment leads to the "amazing transformation" that occurs when a prisoner realizes that his solipsism is not actually helping himself. The program at Alcatraz (individual cells, lots of quiet time, lights out early in the evening) forced convicts to face themselves and Ward argues that it is essentially the requirement that a man make this inner change if he is going to be rehabilitated. Alcatraz, without the distraction of other prisons provided the space for inner change during the "gangster years". Later, Alcatraz became less strict (although never as "loose" as Leavenworth or McNeil) and inmates were allowed educational and personal items (books, painting supplies, instruments) in their cells and the silent rules were relaxed and the rates of recidivism increased to match other institutions.
Ward makes another conclusion about the inverse relationship between the amount of trouble an inmate caused while in Alcatraz (behavior infractions from talking back to striking or an escape attempt) and the success upon release. It appears that those inmates that were the most volatile were, for the most part, the ones that were the most successful. Ward points out that the individual resistance indicated that the prisoner had not yet lost his spirit and provided a rational outlet for him. The institutional response to the behavior (isolation and segregation) provided an opportunity for the man to have that "aha" moment of reflection that would prompt his change.
I'm not entirely sure I agree with Ward's conclusions, but the entire field of penal studies and the argument for deterrant vs. rehabilitation reminded me of parenting. As a society, we want to punish criminals, but we also want to eventually bring them back into the fold. Alactraz treated inmate the most like children, giving them the least amount of choice and responsibility. The inmates responded accordingly; some followed the rules from the beginning, others rebelled and then matured out when they discovered that the system was bigger than themselves.
Probably not a book for everyone. I would have been bored if I could not actually picture the inside of the prison (having just toured it) and wanting to know all the historical details.
The book itself was very interesting and detail rich, but excessively long. The analysis is only about 50 quick pages at the end, but the bulk of the book details the highlights of action at Alcatraz (including work strikes, escape attempts, and the 2 day gun battle that ensued). Although this is a non fiction account and Ward repeats many specific details throughout, at times it reads like a novel.
Ultimately, Ward's conclusion is for the criminals imprisoned at Alcatraz during the Gangster Years (1934-1943), recidivisim was lower (36.8%) than expected for inmates in any prison at the time. He emphasizes that the factors involved include outside support (family and employers) post-release and the aging of the inmates, but also indicates that the program at Alcatraz and its monastic environment leads to the "amazing transformation" that occurs when a prisoner realizes that his solipsism is not actually helping himself. The program at Alcatraz (individual cells, lots of quiet time, lights out early in the evening) forced convicts to face themselves and Ward argues that it is essentially the requirement that a man make this inner change if he is going to be rehabilitated. Alcatraz, without the distraction of other prisons provided the space for inner change during the "gangster years". Later, Alcatraz became less strict (although never as "loose" as Leavenworth or McNeil) and inmates were allowed educational and personal items (books, painting supplies, instruments) in their cells and the silent rules were relaxed and the rates of recidivism increased to match other institutions.
Ward makes another conclusion about the inverse relationship between the amount of trouble an inmate caused while in Alcatraz (behavior infractions from talking back to striking or an escape attempt) and the success upon release. It appears that those inmates that were the most volatile were, for the most part, the ones that were the most successful. Ward points out that the individual resistance indicated that the prisoner had not yet lost his spirit and provided a rational outlet for him. The institutional response to the behavior (isolation and segregation) provided an opportunity for the man to have that "aha" moment of reflection that would prompt his change.
I'm not entirely sure I agree with Ward's conclusions, but the entire field of penal studies and the argument for deterrant vs. rehabilitation reminded me of parenting. As a society, we want to punish criminals, but we also want to eventually bring them back into the fold. Alactraz treated inmate the most like children, giving them the least amount of choice and responsibility. The inmates responded accordingly; some followed the rules from the beginning, others rebelled and then matured out when they discovered that the system was bigger than themselves.
Probably not a book for everyone. I would have been bored if I could not actually picture the inside of the prison (having just toured it) and wanting to know all the historical details.
March 23, 2024
well researched
This was a great book. The research was thorough and I learned a lot. My previous knowledge was primarily based on Hollywood’s take of Alcatraz. Although some bits were redundant, overall it was very intriguing. Not only did it go in depth on the prison itself, it went in depth on the prisoners, their lives before during and after, and briefly compared to prisons of today. Worth the longer read!
This was a great book. The research was thorough and I learned a lot. My previous knowledge was primarily based on Hollywood’s take of Alcatraz. Although some bits were redundant, overall it was very intriguing. Not only did it go in depth on the prison itself, it went in depth on the prisoners, their lives before during and after, and briefly compared to prisons of today. Worth the longer read!
June 3, 2021
Thoroughly researched and written, this book was very interesting, but quite dense, so not exactly a page turner. It is divided into clear sections, which allowed me to stop and start reading over the last few years. Recommended to those who want the real details about the infamous prison and not the sensationalized Hollywood stories and urban legends.
April 30, 2023
It took me 5 years to do it, but I finally read this book! The information was overall good and interesting, also very dense. I also found portions unnecessarily repetitive. Broken up into three parts, the book got much easier for me after part 1.
November 29, 2009
A real fascination with the history of this prison is required in order to tackle this 500+ page tome. This is a dry, sociological history of the prison, but the most detailed history ever assembled. Ward compiled his information from rare federal archives and 30 years of interviews with former inmates and prison guards. Included are detailed accounts of prison breaks, strikes, the lives of celebrity prisoners, life after prison and the strained relationship between the prison system and the public.
June 3, 2012
So this book took me awhile to get through. But, I have learned some very interesting things about the notorious prison Alcatraz. While reading this, I also learned about the big gangsters of the 30s like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and the real truth about Henry Young. Quite interesting and good learning!
May 23, 2009
Hear my interview with the author
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September 20, 2009Serious and lively. Sociologist studied Alcatraz since '60s. Based on his interviews w/ now-dead guards and inmages. Heard him on NPR.
December 9, 2015
I enjoyed the book because it provided you Historical information about Alcatraz I was interested in. However the book was very long and slow moving.
October 29, 2015
A nice look at what led to the founding of Alcatraz, the history of the prison, and a look at how it received it's mystique.
September 5, 2016
needed more editing
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews