ESCAPE—NEVER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 7 June 1937, Page 7

ESCAPE—NEVER

o— U.S. DEVIL’S ISLAND Life In Mystery Prison San Francisco, May 11The Governor of-Alcatraz, the Federal prison in San Francisco Bay, commonly known as “America’s Devil’s Island,” has just been giving some ; highly significant views on American ’ crime and criminals.- “The parole systems of the several States are too haphazard, too loose. There is no &t--".empt made to study case histories, to classify applicants for parole. Hcrce many prfeorf rs are paroled who have no right to be” This wsis what the Governor of . ■ Alcatraz, Warden Jam s A. Johnsion, S'n Fr.inciseo Feiieral prison, from which no convict may hope to escape, the last stop along -the prison road for the hardened criminal ' incarceiuted by the Government, jbad to say. “I am not in favour of automatic iparol-s., with prisoners being turned I loose when they become eligible tor i parole, regardless of whether or not | they are fit to be released on society,” he said. “For effective enforcement I of a parole system, prisoners should | be studied thoroughly, their case his- ' lories examined by experts, their I own minds, bodies, morals and aims studied carefully if we would know I whether or not they are safe risks, I just as insurance actuaries examine ius when we seek a- policy. I “Of course, the law contemplates ■ the release; of prisoners at some fu- ! lure, date when they enter prisons, in I seme cases,” Mr. Johnston continued, “but we ought not to turn them loose when they are eligible, regardi less of their fitness or lack of fit- ; ness.” A Student of Life. I The master of Alcatraz, who must ! be his own judge, jury, the last word | in management of the lives of the 350 j “problem children” under his care on “The Rock,” is a mild-mannered, sil- ' very-haired student of life. For 25 years he has held the responsibility for maintaining prison bars between society and criminals. He was warden of Folsom prison from 1911 to 1913, when he wtas transferred to San Quentin, the world's greatest penal institution, where he served as warden until 1925. i When the U.S. Government established its pr'son on forbidding Alcatc raz Island, Mr. Johnston was summon. I t'd from private business, January 1. j 1934, to assume the duties of wi. rden there. During his years, of guardianship of convicts he has watched over ' more than 30,000 prisoners Despite his years of contact with hardened criminals, Mr, Johnston has not lost faith in. humcnity and still retains ideals. He resents Alcatraz being | called “Devil’s Island.'' “If it were I not for the fact that it is a Federal prison, the inland could very well be ja. health resort,” he seid. “Alcatraz | ■is hot escape proof—but w?- rather i hope it will prove to be in the event j of an emergency. One man 'tried es- I cape. His bedy fell into the bay; I he was shot while scaling >a fence.” Reason for Alcatraz, The quick-spoken conveyed a hint of iron mask in his soft tons and gentle manner, a hint of failure for escape .artists. He described Alcatraz, in a little more detail. "The reason for the prison is to prevent contact of hardened criminals with first offenders. No courts send prisoners to us; they come from other Federal prisons where they liav,e given evidence of being perplexing problems. They are all long termers, doing from 15 years to life. There is no parole from Alcatraz. About 50 per cent of our prisoners are lifers. If Alcatraz is successful it will have la reflex action on other prisons; it influences 'their inmates to-beliave, at least while incarcerated. “This prison provides two things—maximum security and a minimum of privileges. Its inmates are humane treatment, but they .are under complete control at all times.. We simply don’t permit them to enjoy opportunities to exercise what troublesome penchants they may possess. Hence, we do not have such things as riots; breaks, rumblings. No, there is no ‘grapevine telegraph’ on Alcatraz.” This insight into doings on Alcatraz was afforded when Warden Johnston was on his way to la.ddre.ss a Rotary convention in Hollywood, and provided a much-sought detail in'to the actual conditions on the island of mystery known all around the world for its rigid control of America’s incorrigibles who led the gangster | world iamdi gave, enormous trouble to police all over the country.