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Island Prisons

Alcatraz is not the only well-known island prison. Devil’s Island, the French penal settlement off the coast of South America, was first opened in 1852 to accommodate prisoners suffering from leprosy. It became notorious for its harsh conditions. Later, the prison was used mostly for political prisoners, including the famous Alfred Dreyfus (pictured), the subject of numerous books and movies. The most famous island prisoner of all was Napoleon Bonaparte, who, after escaping from exile on the Isle of Elba, was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. To make sure he stayed captive, he was sent this time to the tiny island of St. Helena, which is out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean halfway between Africa and South America. He died there in 1821. The United States has other offshore prisons, such as Rikers Island in Bowerie Bay, New York, and McNeil Island in Puget Sound, Washington State. None have achieved the notoriety of Alcatraz, possibly because they did not have Hollywood on their doorsteps and did not house only the most dangerous and deadliest of public enemies.

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Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, California