There is no prison more prolific than Alcatraz, so it should come as no surprise that some of its past inmates have been equally notorious. Alcatraz Penitentiary was the country's premiere maximum-security prison at the time before closing on March 21, 1963, after 29 years of operation. Here's a look at some of the most famous criminals to get locked up in the island-based prison off the coast of San Francisco.
Pictured here in the 1970s, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and the island it stands on can be seen from above. The infamous prison closed on March 21, 1963, after 29 years of operation.
Pictured here in the 1970s, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and the island it stands on can be seen from above. The infamous prison closed on March 21, 1963, after 29 years of operation.
The main cell block that once housed the most infamous gangsters in American history is pictured on March 13, 1956.
The main cell block that once housed the most infamous gangsters in American history is pictured on March 13, 1956.
After he began serving time in U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Capone was transferred to maximum-security Alcatraz in San Francisco amid rumous that he was manipulating the system and receiving cushy treatment.
After he began serving time in a U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Al Capone was transferred to maximum-security Alcatraz in San Francisco amid rumors that he was manipulating the system and receiving cushy treatment.
One of the three leaders of a Depression-era gang, Kapris earned his nickname for his exceptionally sinister smile. Of all its notorious inmates, he's the one wh spent the most time within the confines of Alcatraz. Accused of some ten murders, six kidnappings and robbery, he was sentenced to life in prison - he arrived on The Rock in 1936 and was later transferred to another facility in 1962.
One of the three leaders of a Depression-era gang, Alan “Creepy” Kapris earned his nickname for his exceptionally sinister smile. Of all its notorious inmates, he’s the one who spent the most time within the confines of Alcatraz. Accused of some ten murders, six kidnappings and robbery, he was sentenced to life in prison – he arrived on The Rock in 1936 and was later transferred to another facility in 1962.
Better known as the 'Birdman of Alcatraz,' Robert Stroud ranks high on the island prison's list of most famous inmates. After being transferred from prison to prison for his violent behaviors, he landed in Alcatraz in 1942. Over the course of his time behind bars, Stroud developed a keen interest in canaries and was even allowed to breed and maintain a lab for the birds in two adjoining cells. As a result, he penned two books on canaries and their diseases and raised nearly 300 of them from jail.
Better known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” Robert Stroud ranks high on the island prison’s list of most famous inmates. After being transferred from prison to prison for his violent behaviors, he landed in Alcatraz in 1942. Throughout his time behind bars, Stroud developed a keen interest in canaries and was even allowed to breed and maintain a lab for the birds in two adjoining cells. As a result, he penned two books on canaries and their diseases and raised nearly 300 of them from jail.
Famous for using his charisma and magnetic grin to rob mail trucks, 'The Smiling Bandit' boasts the title of Alcatraz's most charming inmate. After scheming his way out of countless arrests, Gardner landed in Alcatraz which he went on to describe as
Famous for using his charisma and magnetic grin to rob mail trucks, Roy “The Smiling Bandit” Gardner boasts the title of Alcatraz’s most charming inmate. After scheming his way out of countless arrests, Gardner landed in Alcatraz which he went on to describe as “the toughest, hardest place in the world.” He penned “Hellcatraz,” his autobiography, before committing suicide in 1940.
The guards considered Kelly, one of the prohibition era's most notorious gangsters, a model inmate during his 17-year stint in Alcatraz - he even served as altar boy in the prison's chapel. It's also long been rumored the machine gun-toting bootlegger committed all his crimes at the behest of his partner-in-crime and wife, Kathryn Thorne.
The guards considered George “The Machine Gun” Kelly, one of the prohibition era’s most notorious gangsters, a model inmate during his 17-year stint in Alcatraz. He even served as an altar boy in the prison’s chapel. It’s also long been rumored the machine gun-toting bootlegger committed all his crimes at the behest of his partner-in-crime and wife, Kathryn Thorne.
John Paul Chase was a bank robber and a member of Alvin Karpis' and Ma Barker's criminal gang before he landed at Alcatraz; he later ran with the Dillinger Gang thanks to an introduction by gangster and fellow bank robber Baby Face Nelson. Chase robbed banks for roughly a year before being sentenced to life in prison on March 31, 1935, for the deaths of federal agents Sam Cowley and Herman Hollis, who were, in reality, killed by Nelson. Chase was one of Alcatraz's longest serving inmates, racking up 19 years behind their bars.
John Paul Chase was a bank robber and a member of Alvin Karpis’ and Ma Barker’s criminal gang before he landed at Alcatraz. He later ran with the Dillinger Gang thanks to an introduction by gangster and fellow bank robber Baby Face Nelson. Chase robbed banks for roughly a year before being sentenced to life in prison on March 31, 1935, for the deaths of federal agents Sam Cowley and Herman Hollis, who were, in reality, killed by Nelson. Chase was one of Alcatraz’s longest-serving inmates, racking up 19 years behind bars.
According to romanticized retellings of his sprees, the organized-crime personality was something of a modern day Robin Hood, but that didn't keep him out of the most famous slammer of all time. He was transferred to Alcatraz in 1959 after involvement in a CIA research project where he was given LSD and other drugs, allegedly in a quest to find the cure for schizophrenia.
According to romanticized retellings of his sprees, organized-crime personality James “Whitey” Bulger was something of a modern-day Robin Hood, but that didn’t keep him out of the most famous slammer of all time. He was transferred to Alcatraz in 1959 after involvement in a CIA research project where he was given LSD and other drugs, allegedly in a quest to find the cure for schizophrenia.
John Anglin, along with his brother Clarence and Frank Morris, was one of three inmates who escaped Alcatraz grounds in 1962. The three convicts built papier-mache dummy heads and placed them in their beds to throw guards off. They then used an unused ventilator to break out and get on the roof, where they allegedly shimmied down the bakery smoke stack and snuck to the northeast short of the island.
John Anglin, along with his brother Clarence and Frank Morris, was one of three inmates who escaped Alcatraz grounds in 1962. The three convicts built papier-mache dummy heads and placed them in their beds to throw guards off. They then used an unused ventilator to break out and get on the roof, where they allegedly shimmied down the bakery smoke stack and snuck to the northeast shore of the island.
Clarence Anglin refused to open his eyes for his mugshot as he arrived at Alcatraz in 1961. The night after he, his brother Clarence, and fellow inmate Frank Morris escaped, during the early morning routine bed check, it was discovered the men were gone and an intensive search began. The FBI, the Coast Guard and the Bureau of Prison authorities intensively looked for the men, but weren't successful. Their whereabouts post-escape, despite multiple theories and claims over the years, remain unknown.
Clarence Anglin refused to open his eyes for his mugshot as he arrived at Alcatraz in 1961. The night after he, his brother Clarence, and fellow inmate Frank Morris escaped, during the early morning routine bed check, it was discovered the men were gone and an intensive search began. The FBI, the Coast Guard and the Bureau of Prison authorities intensively looked for the men but weren’t successful. Despite multiple theories and claims over the years, their whereabouts post-escape remain unknown.
As soon as he was transferred to Alcatraz in 1960, the long-time criminal began planning his escape with fellow inmates Allen West, and brothers John and Clarence Anglin. Two years later, the group placed dummies on their beds, wiggled through air vents and then hopped on a raft, which was found the next day along with some of the Anglin brother's personal effects. While authorities are mostly certain the group drowned, their bodies were never found.
As soon as he was transferred to Alcatraz in 1960, Frank Lee Morris began planning his escape with fellow inmates Allen West, and brothers John and Clarence Anglin. Two years later, the group placed dummies on their beds, wiggled through air vents and then hopped on a raft, which was found the next day along with some of the Anglin brother’s personal effects. While authorities are mostly certain the group drowned, their bodies were never found.
While doing time for a robbery in Alcatraz, the repeat offender grabbed an ax, chopped off his fingers and then allegedly asked another inmate to do the same to his other hand. Many say the wound was a ploy to transfer - Persful spent much of his time on the island being tortured by other jail-dwellers after they learned he was tasked with shooting fellow inmates attempting to escape during a previous jail stint in Arkansas. Others believe it was Alcatraz's silence policy - eventually repealed - that drove him to insanity.
While doing time for a robbery in Alcatraz, repeat offender Rufe Persful grabbed an ax, chopped off his fingers and then allegedly asked another inmate to do the same to his other hand. Many say the wound was a ploy to transfer – Persful spent much of his time on the island being tortured by other jail-dwellers after they learned he was tasked with shooting fellow inmates attempting to escape during a previous jail stint in Arkansas. Others believe it was Alcatraz’s silence policy – eventually repealed – that drove him to insanity.
A professional boxer and member of the Jewish mafia, the gangster was convicted twice for tax evasion and sentenced to 15 years in Alcatraz in 1961. When he was picked up by police, Cohen didn't even put down his sandwich and photographed being escorted out of his home by the authorities while still enjoying his lunch.
A professional boxer and member of the Jewish mafia, gangster Mickey Cohen was convicted twice for tax evasion and sentenced to 15 years in Alcatraz in 1961. When he was picked up by police, Cohen didn’t even put down his sandwich and photographed being escorted out of his home by the authorities while still enjoying his lunch.
The youngest inmate to ever pass through Alcatraz, 'The Choctaw Kid' was sentenced for the murder of a garage attendant at 16. He arrived on the island prison at the age of 18 where he immediately began plotting his escape. His plans to flee culminated in the famous two-day Battle of Alcatraz, which left two guards and three inmates dead. Carnes' accomplices in the escape plot were sentenced to death, while he received an additional 99 years on his sentence.
The youngest inmate to ever pass through Alcatraz, Clarence “The Choctaw Kid” Carnes was sentenced for the murder of a garage attendant at 16. He arrived on the island prison at the age of 18 where he immediately began plotting his escape. His plans to flee culminated in the famous two-day Battle of Alcatraz, which left two guards and three inmates dead. Carnes’ accomplices in the escape plot were sentenced to death, while he received an additional 99 years on his sentence.
A view of Alcatraz island and penitentiary circa the 1930s in the San Francisco Bay. From the mid-1930s until the mid-1960s, Alcatraz (
A view of Alcatraz island and penitentiary circa the 1930s in the San Francisco Bay. From the mid-1930s until the mid-1960s, Alcatraz (“the Rock”) was America’s premier maximum-security prison, the final stop for the nation’s most incorrigible inmates, including Al Capone.