SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A proposal to convert Alcatraz Island from a tourist attraction back into a functioning federal prison is drawing criticism from criminal justice advocates, who argue the plan could divert attention and resources from more urgent problems across the nation’s correctional system.
A recent report from the Brennan Center highlights potential pitfalls associated with the proposal, contending that reopening Alcatraz would do little to address the most pressing issues facing federal prisons today. Instead, experts warn the move could distract policymakers from resolving staffing shortages, modernizing outdated facilities and improving reentry programs nationwide.
Alcatraz operated as a federal prison from 1934 until 1963, when it closed because of high operating costs and the logistical challenges of maintaining a prison on an island. Today, it is a historic landmark and one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most popular tourist destinations. Any effort to reconstruct the facility would likely require millions of dollars…