Why Re-Open? Merely a Political Stun to give the false Impression of being Tough on Crime. This idea was put in Trump’s Head. But he wants to give a false tough persona. While afraid to deal with real Issues like Putin. Why? Trump wants TRUMP TOWER MOSCOW.

Reopening Alcatraz as a functioning prison would be an incredibly costly and complex undertaking. Estimates suggest that the upfront costs could range from $235 million to $370 million, with annual operating costs reaching $40 million to $75 million. These high costs are largely due to its isolated island location, requiring all necessities like water, food, and fuel to be barged in, and raw sewage to be barged out. Additionally, the existing structures are severely deteriorated from decades of saltwater exposure and would require extensive repairs, retrofitting for earthquakes, and installation of modern security technology to meet contemporary prison standards.

The estimated annual operating costs are also significantly higher than mainland prisons, possibly three times more expensive due to the logistical challenges of island life. Furthermore, reopening it as a prison would mean losing the approximately $60 million in annual tourism revenue that Alcatraz currently generates as a popular National Park Service site.

Historical History of Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island, often referred to as “The Rock,” has a rich and varied history, evolving from a military fortification to a notorious federal prison, and finally to a beloved tourist attraction.

Why Would Anyone Want to Reopen Alcatraz?

Given the astronomical costs and logistical nightmares, the idea of reopening Alcatraz as a functioning prison seems largely impractical. However, proponents or those who might entertain the idea often cite the following reasons:

• Symbolism of “Law and Order”: Perhaps the strongest appeal of reopening Alcatraz is its powerful symbolic value. It represents the ultimate in inescapable confinement and a “tough on crime” stance. For those who prioritize a strong message of deterrence and justice, Alcatraz could be seen as an icon of unwavering punishment for the “most ruthless and violent offenders.” This symbolic power might outweigh practical considerations for some.
• Perceived “Supermax” Capacity: While Alcatraz was relatively small by modern prison standards, its historical reputation as a facility for the “worst of the worst” suggests it could serve as an extreme maximum-security (or “supermax”) prison. Some might argue there’s a need for such a facility to house truly dangerous individuals or those who pose significant escape risks in other prisons.
• Historical Aura and Deterrence: The very history of Alcatraz, its mystique, and the stories of its infamous inmates could be seen as a deterrent. The idea is that the psychological impact of being sent to “The Rock” could be a powerful tool for discouraging criminal behavior, even if the practical impact on the overall prison population is minimal.
• Political Messaging: For political figures, advocating for the reopening of Alcatraz can be a powerful rhetorical tool to signal a commitment to law and order and a no-tolerance approach to crime, even if the actual implementation faces immense hurdles.

However, it’s crucial to understand that these reasons are often met with strong counterarguments from correctional experts, historians, and economists, who point to the overwhelming practical difficulties and costs.

How Does the Cost of Opening and Running Alcatraz Compare to Other Federal Prisons?

The costs associated with reopening and running Alcatraz would be astronomically higher than those of typical federal prisons, and even significantly higher than modern supermax facilities.

Let’s break down the comparison:

1. Initial Opening/Construction Costs:

• Alcatraz: As mentioned, estimated upfront costs to reopen Alcatraz could range from $235 million to $370 million. This is for a relatively small prison, designed for a few hundred inmates. This figure is influenced by the need for extensive structural repair due to saltwater corrosion, earthquake retrofitting, and installing entirely new, modern infrastructure (water, sewage, electricity, communications, security systems) on an isolated island.
• New Federal Prisons/Supermax Facilities: Building a new, modern federal prison can cost hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars, but these facilities are typically much larger and designed to house thousands of inmates, offering a far greater return on investment in terms of capacity. For example, the federal supermax, ADX Florence, was built in 1994 at a cost of $60 million, but this was for a facility with 490 beds, and costs have naturally inflated since then. However, even considering inflation, the per-bed cost for building a new facility on the mainland would likely be lower than the extreme costs of rehabilitating and modernizing Alcatraz.

2. Annual Operating Costs:

• Alcatraz: The original Alcatraz was shut down primarily because it was deemed too expensive to run. In its final years, it cost approximately three times more per inmate than other federal prisons. Current estimates suggest annual operating costs could reach $40 million to $75 million. If we consider its historical capacity of around 250-300 inmates, this translates to an astronomical per-inmate annual cost.
  • One estimate from the time of its closure stated it cost $10.10 a day per inmate at Alcatraz compared to $3 at a federal prison in Atlanta. Adjusting for inflation, $10.10 in 1959 would be around $105-$110 today. If the “three times more expensive” ratio still holds, and considering current federal costs, Alcatraz could cost upwards of $360 per inmate per day, or over $130,000 annually per inmate.
• Other Federal Prisons (Average):
  • According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the average annual cost of incarcerating a federal inmate in a Bureau or non-Bureau facility in FY 2023 was $44,090 ($120.80 per day). This figure encompasses all security levels from minimum to high.
• Federal Supermax Prisons (e.g., ADX Florence):
  • Supermax prisons, designed for the highest security inmates, are inherently more expensive to operate than general population prisons due to specialized staffing, more restrictive environments, and heightened security measures. While exact recent figures for ADX Florence’s per-inmate cost are not always publicly detailed, older data suggests costs significantly higher than average. For instance, in 2003, housing a supermax inmate at Ohio State Penitentiary cost $54,385 a year, compared to $22,995 for general population inmates. Modern supermax costs are likely in the $70,000 to $90,000+ per inmate per year range, possibly more depending on the specific facility and inmate needs.

Conclusion:

Reopening Alcatraz would mean shouldering costs far exceeding those of existing federal prisons, including supermax facilities. The geographical isolation, structural decay, and the need for modern infrastructure on an island make it a uniquely expensive proposition, leading most experts to conclude that it would be a symbolic, rather than practical, endeavor.