May 16, 2025
Bella Hirtzel | Writer
In an effort of President Trump’s administration to promote justice, shocking news revealed this past Sunday that Trump plans to reopen Alcatraz.
Alcatraz is one of the most infamous maximum security prisons in American history and has been home to some of the most notorious criminals such as George “Machine-Gun” Kelly and Al Capone. Surrounded by freezing waters and strong currents, Alcatraz lies in San Francisco Bay, nearly impossible to escape with its harsh conditions.
Alcatraz shut down on March 21, 1963 mainly for its insanely high operation costs, being almost three times the amount it costs to operate a normal federal prison and also the location of the prison made difficult circumstances to transport goods. A number of people have attempted to escape but only three were successful, however, considering the horrible conditions of the Pacific tides, their chances of survival were slim to none.
Alcatraz will once again be a “last resort” prison where only the worst of the worst criminals are placed, President Trump says this is a “symbol of Law, Order, and Justice.” President Trump’s decision to resurrect Alcatraz is a foreshadowing of how his administration is focused on reinforcing traditional values of earlier American society.
The problem with the reopening of Alcatraz lies in the fact that the reconstruction process requires congressional approval and tremendous infrastructure investment. Many American citizens are concerned about the initiative being put into place and the burden this prison will bring to the federal government. Nevertheless, others are standing firm with the President’s initiatives in furthering justice in America and see this as an act of service for the American public.
While this news is not very familiar with many students on campus, some have shared how they have heard stories about Alcatraz and its history. Anna Jansen, a junior at SCHS, remarked how she was told about Alcatraz by her parents and she remembers it as a very “dark and frightening” place.
Reintroducing a place that acquired this legacy is not necessarily a step forward in progressing to be a more humane society, but if it is intended to be a symbol of law and order, then so be it.
Trent Ryan, a junior at SCHS, shared how he knows some information about President Trump’s recent decisions to reopen the prison and he mentioned how he imagines Alcatraz as the “prison from Harry Potter, Azkaban.” Has the nation turned prison into a dystopian ideal by reopening Alcatraz? Or is that just the direction the government is aiming for when it comes to locking away criminals for life?
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