Alcatraz is located outside San Francisco. Prior to this time, Alcatraz had been used as a military prison. The island is a good location for a penitentiary as it is cut off by the mainland by the very strong, rough currents of San Francisco Bay. Many escapees died trying to swim to shore.
Some of Alcatraz' more famous residents included Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. The Birdman of Alcatraz was also known as Robert Franklin Stroud. Staff and their families lived there as well.
Alcatraz was also occupied by Indian tribes from 1969-1971, to protest federal Indian policies.
What kind of crimes would land someone in Alcatraz? It was a federal prison, so only federal crimes would apply. Al Capone served for tax evasion. Murder of a federal employee, such as a US Marshall or postal worker is a federal crime. Kidnapping is a federal crime.
Because of the way the US government is structured, authority over crime belongs to the states unless the Federal government passes specific legislation (police power). And Congress has to justify any legislation by its enumerated powers of the Constitution. So federal crimes usually apply to crimes against the federal government, or crimes involving multiple states.
The prison was closed in 1963, by order of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Today, Alcatraz is a tourist attraction, part of the National Park Service.
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