Alcatraz: United States Penitentiary 1934-1963 As a result of the Great Depression, a new breed of violent criminals swept the streets of America. In response to the cries of alarmed citizens, Congress enacted a number of statutes, which gave the federal government jurisdiction over certain criminal offenses previously held by the states. With the suggestion of former US Attorney General, Homes Cummings, Congress agreed that a special penal institution of maximum security and minimum privilege …showed first 75 words of 884 total…

…showed last 75 words of 884 total…has even inspired films such as The Rock, with Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage. Even though the Alcatraz prison is dead, its legacy continues at other penal institutions such as the federal prison in Marion, IL, which operates in the footsteps of Alcatraz. References: 1. Coy, Bernard Paul. Alcatraz’46: The Anatomy of a Classic Prison Tragedy. Leswing Press, San Rafael, CA 1974. 2. Roberts, John W. Escaping Prison Myths. The American University Press, Washington , D.C. 1994. Word Count: 905