U.S. officials have recently visited Alcatraz Island as the Trump administration pushes forward with plans to potentially reopen the infamous prison, which has been closed since 1963. It’s easy to understand why McKinsey’s proposal has generated a maelstrom of hope and skepticism from state lawmakers, federal officials and others on both sides of the Chattahoochee.
Alcatraz was home to one of the most infamous maximum-security prisons in American history. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy wound it up, citing exorbitant operating costs, lack of space, and the high numbers of escape attempts received. Even after its closure, the island changed into a historical imperative, drawing millions of tourists each year. New bipartisan interest in reopening the facility surfaced recently. This occurred amid the backdrop of the Trump administration’s attempts to reopen other closed detention centers in collusion with the private prison industry.
William Marshall, main architect of the proposal, said that they were excited by what they could do with reopening Alcatraz. He stated, “We’ve got engineering teams out there now that are doing some assessments, and so I’m just really excited about the opportunity and possibilities.”
Marshall likened Alcatraz to other iconic venues: “When you think of Alcatraz, you think of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, those types of facilities … you just get that kind of feeling about Alcatraz when you think of those historical venues.” He further emphasized their confidence in the feasibility of this project: “And so, yeah, we absolutely think we can get it done.”
Not everyone is sanguine about the proposal. California lawmakers have already called it a “distraction” and are challenging the plan’s seriousness. They contend that reopening Alcatraz would be a huge financial burden and potentially result in costly lawsuits.
As tempting as this imaginative concept sounds, GGNRA superintendent David Smith is still not sold on the proposal. He noted that federal Bureau of Prisons officials have visited the island’s facilities and given their own assessments. He said further evaluations are still necessary. “They have been out here. They’ll be coming out again to do assessments of the structure,” Smith noted.
The Trump administration is increasing focus on reopening facilities that are currently closed. Meanwhile, at least five detention centers that had been closed are re-opening at the direction of the federal government. Behind this trend lies a clamor for realism about the practicality and implications of such moves.