10 Famous Prisons In The US And Why
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Prisons are a way of punishing law offenders for an extended period. Some are minimum-security prisons where low-risk inmates are housed, while others are maximum-security prisons where dangerous and the most notorious inmates are confined.
However, different prisons treat their prisoners differently. Some impose strict and harsh measures on the inmates, while some prisons correct the inmates through their rehabilitation programs. These factors determine how the general public and the inmates perceive these prisons. In the process, some prisons become more famous and popular than others.
Factors like the nature and popularity of the inmates a prison holds will also determine its fame. Prisons that have incarcerated famous celebrities and most notorious criminals have become more prominent in the world. There are many famous prisons in the world, but we will discuss the top 10 most famous prisons in the US.
1. Alcatraz
Alcatraz prison is probably one of the most famous prisons in the US and the world at large. It was established in 1850 in San Francisco. Alcatraz housed one of the most notorious and famous criminals in the history of the United States. This includes Machine Gun Kelly and Al Capone.
Alcatraz was remotely located and had advanced security features that made the prison famous. Out of the 36 inmates who tried to escape in 1962, 23 were caught up before they could escape, eight died while trying to escape, and five were unaccounted for. The five missing are presumed to be dead. This escape attempt story has gone down in history and has remained a famous prison escape attempt.
Alcatraz, for many reasons, has remained as an asset for tourist attraction up-to-date.
2. ADX Florence Facility
ADX Florence prison, otherwise known as Florence ADMAX, is a maximum-security prison established in 1994. It is located in Florence, Fremont County, Colorado. The incarceration of notorious prisons like Larry Hoover, El Chapo, and Ted Kaczynski in this prison is why ADX Florence became famous.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons manages the prison. ADX Florence houses the most notorious and dangerous inmates in the US.
3. Penitentiary Prison, New Mexico
The New Mexico Penitentiary prison is located 14 miles south of Santa Fe. The prison is a supermax facility. It houses the most notorious criminals in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Penitentiary prison is composed of three facilities that vary in security requirements. Level-II facility is a low-security facility. Level-IV, V, and Level-VI are high-security facilities holding the most dangerous prisons.
This prison provides rehabilitation to the prisoner. They do so by providing education, skills training, and other programs that improve the character and mental well-being of the inmates.
Inmates who can not perform in a general population are isolated based on the level of the prison. These inmates are managed according to a program based on behavioral factors—this program favors inmates portraying morally good behaviors while the misbehaving one is less privileged.
4. Rikers Island Jail, New York
Rikers Island prison is a maximum-security prison found in Rikers Island, New York. The prison complex contains separate facilities for males, females, and juveniles. The incarceration of some of the famous celebrities made the prison popular and well known. These include:
- Tupac Shakur – American rapper and actor
- Sid Vicious – English bassist and vocalist
- Mark David Chapman – the English musician John Lennon killer
- Lil Wayne – American rapper, songwriter, record executive, and actor
- DMX – American rapper and actor
After the incarceration of these celebrities, Rikers Island prison became famous.
The prison is also marked with brutal treatment of the mentally challenged and the elderly.
The prison is also known for its cases of suicides and deaths. Due to the conditions and violence in prison, some of them opt to kill themselves. One of the most historic deaths in Rikers prison is the death of Kalief Browder. A juvenile was charged for stealing a backpack. The teenager spent three years in jail awaiting his trial.
The years he spent in solitary confinement saw him receiving beatings and brutal treatment. He attempted killing himself at least three times before he was released in 2013. Two years after his release, the teenager killed himself.
It was discovered that juvenile confinements were unsafe and exposed to violence. The correctional officers used excessive and unnecessary force when handling the juveniles.
The prison is set for closure in 2026.
5. United States Penitentiary Atlanta
The United States Penitentiary Atlanta prison is a medium-security prison located in Atlanta, Georgia. The prison is mainly used as a transfer prison. In its history, it housed the majority of the Cuban refugees who were victims of the Mariel Boatlift. This act of kindness made the prison to be among the most famous prisons in the US.
The prison confirmed three to five inmates in their small isolation cells of 5.2 m2. The prisoners were held for up to eight weeks in the confinements.
6. Attica Correctional Facility
Attica Correctional prison is a maximum-security prison found in New York. The prison was constructed in the 1930s and is managed by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The most notorious inmates are housed in this prison.
Inmates in Attica correctional facility spend fourteen hours in their cells every day before they are released.
Some of the famous celebrities to be incarcerated in this prison are Mark David Chapman and David,”Son of Sam.” Their incarceration made the prison well-known.
Currently, the prison holds inmates serving short-time sentences to life sentences. A historical event happened in 1971, where the inmates took ten correctional officers hostage in a riot. A total of 39 deaths were reported from the riot. After the riot, a tear gas system was installed to curb violence within the facility.
7. Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary
Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary medium-security prison for male inmates is located in Leavenworth, Kansas. The inmate population at the facility is 2000.
Some of the famous prisoners incarcerated at this facility are Michael Vick, Bugs Moran, and George Kelly, the Machine Gun. These celebrities are among the many reasons this prison is famous.
8. United States Penitentiary Marion
United States Penitentiary Marion prison is a maximum-security prison found in Marion, Illinois. It was established in 1963 and houses about 1000 inmates.
It became the highest control security jail 15 years after its establishment. Extreme endless violence caused the prison to be locked down.
Some of the most famous inmates ever incarcerated in the United States Penitentiary Marion prison are John Gotti, Pete Rose, and Thomas Silverstein.
United States Penitentiary Marion prison also had a “Communication Management Units,” a program associated with Arab inmates and available in only two prisons.
9. Folsom State Prison
Folsom State Prison was established in 1880 and is located in Folsom, California. It’s the second oldest jail in California. The inmate population in this facility is about 1,813.
Folsom State Prison is the first prison in California to have electricity and among the first to be branded a maximum-security prison.
The prison housed some famous inmates, including Charles Manson, Suge Knight, and Rick James.
In the late 1960s, two historic concert performances by Johnny Cash were held at the facility.
10. San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison was established in July 1852. It’s located in Marin County, California, and has an inmate population of about 3,302 inmates.
One of the most famous inmates incarcerated in this prison is Stanley Williams.
San Quentin State Prison has the only death row for male inmates in California. There is a gas chamber in the prison where executions took place. However, since 1996, executions at the prison have been done by lethal injection.
Conclusion
This is the complete list of some of the most famous prisons in the US. Several factors made these prisons famous, including the inmates they hosted, how they treated their inmates, and the amenities they have in their facilities. Some of them were made famous after a historical event happened in the facility.
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