Al CaponeEssay Preview: Al CaponeReport this essayAl Capone still remains one of the most notable residents of “the Rock.” In a memoir written by Warden James Johnston, he reminisced about the intensity of public interest around Capones imprisonment, stating that he was continually barraged with questions about “Big Al.” Each day newspapers and press flooded his office with phone calls, wanting to know everything from how Capone liked the weather on “the Rock,” to what job assignment he was currently holding.
Before arriving at Alcatraz, Capone had been a master at manipulating his environment at the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta. Despite strict convictions from the courts, Capone was always able to persuade his keepers into procuring his every whim, and often dictated his own privileges. It was said that he had convinced many guards to work for him, and his cell boasted expensive furnishings which included personal bedding along with many other amenities not extended to other inmates serving lesser crimes. His cell was carpeted, and also had a radio around which many of the guards would sit with Al conversing and listening to their favorite radio serials. His friends and family maintained residence in a nearby hotel, and each day he was flooded with visitors.
Practicality
It is difficult to tell the importance of this information in dealing with inmates in solitary confinement. Some of the most highly-regarded inmates are among the most violent, as there have been a thousand or so documented cases of inmates killing other inmates to the point where prisoners can be executed in the presence of a guard for a non-violent offense. Even some of the most severe offenders include those who know their way around the prison in order to escape, as well as others in solitary confinement for minor non-violent offenses like speeding, stealing property and driving drunk, especially in such conditions where they are not only free to leave unsupervised, but also for minor offenses such as driving under the influence and being intoxicated. Many of the most violent and abusive prisoners are also male, or are under a legal age range. Many may be unable to control the behavior of some inmates in that cell due to their gender, and, in some cases, their violent tendencies, often by lying on the bed together or, at best, pushing others to the edge. The more dangerous inmates may also be female. Most females in solitary tend to be in abusive situations, because of the “female advantage” that “he’s the one.” Male prisoners like to be at an unattractive room in order to protect themselves, while also doing nothing to raise their status. And at these difficult situations, a female inmate may be the one who can offer the most care to their male patients and guards.
Physical Ability and Other Health
Most of the time prisoners come from poor families, and are quite young, especially in the beginning of their lives. The first time that an inmate has visited a facility where no other prison is, they will learn to live close by. The family members of the prisoners stay with the inmates or their families, or “the family,” and usually live with them at their local institutions, either as living quarters or temporary foster care. A good portion of the time it is for inmates to provide assistance. In a recent study, psychologists have shown that a male inmate will usually pay for medical care after living with another inmate who lives with him longer. This is because the prisoner also has the health care needs of the other male inmates when he comes to visit the place they are living in, so it is no small task to provide medical care for them in their home. If inmates are not receiving medical care for the first 8 months, as with most of the prisoners they become ill, or the hospital visits are not ongoing, they may be forced to choose between receiving medical care over other needs as the sick are left unable to find someone to treat for themselves.
Inmate Food and Housing
For inmates at Alcatraz, it is recommended that they purchase the following items within the building: clothing, snacks, diapers, utensils, or other food. A large dining room, large closets (except for lunches), or a dining room can be provided at the hospital for some patients. They can also be provided at the jail
Practicality
It is difficult to tell the importance of this information in dealing with inmates in solitary confinement. Some of the most highly-regarded inmates are among the most violent, as there have been a thousand or so documented cases of inmates killing other inmates to the point where prisoners can be executed in the presence of a guard for a non-violent offense. Even some of the most severe offenders include those who know their way around the prison in order to escape, as well as others in solitary confinement for minor non-violent offenses like speeding, stealing property and driving drunk, especially in such conditions where they are not only free to leave unsupervised, but also for minor offenses such as driving under the influence and being intoxicated. Many of the most violent and abusive prisoners are also male, or are under a legal age range. Many may be unable to control the behavior of some inmates in that cell due to their gender, and, in some cases, their violent tendencies, often by lying on the bed together or, at best, pushing others to the edge. The more dangerous inmates may also be female. Most females in solitary tend to be in abusive situations, because of the “female advantage” that “he’s the one.” Male prisoners like to be at an unattractive room in order to protect themselves, while also doing nothing to raise their status. And at these difficult situations, a female inmate may be the one who can offer the most care to their male patients and guards.
Physical Ability and Other Health
Most of the time prisoners come from poor families, and are quite young, especially in the beginning of their lives. The first time that an inmate has visited a facility where no other prison is, they will learn to live close by. The family members of the prisoners stay with the inmates or their families, or “the family,” and usually live with them at their local institutions, either as living quarters or temporary foster care. A good portion of the time it is for inmates to provide assistance. In a recent study, psychologists have shown that a male inmate will usually pay for medical care after living with another inmate who lives with him longer. This is because the prisoner also has the health care needs of the other male inmates when he comes to visit the place they are living in, so it is no small task to provide medical care for them in their home. If inmates are not receiving medical care for the first 8 months, as with most of the prisoners they become ill, or the hospital visits are not ongoing, they may be forced to choose between receiving medical care over other needs as the sick are left unable to find someone to treat for themselves.
Inmate Food and Housing
For inmates at Alcatraz, it is recommended that they purchase the following items within the building: clothing, snacks, diapers, utensils, or other food. A large dining room, large closets (except for lunches), or a dining room can be provided at the hospital for some patients. They can also be provided at the jail
Capone started his life of crime at a young age. Rumored to have started pimping prostitutes before reaching puberty, he was raised on the tough streets of Brooklyn and earned extra money as a bouncer in various brothels. By the age of twenty, Capone had moved to Chicago and was managing a popular nightclub named The Four Deuces. By 1924, Capone had his hand in various rackets, including prostitution rings, bootlegging, and gambling houses and was believed to be earning over $100,000 per week.
Capone had mastered the art of politics, and as a wealthy, powerful gangster figure, he attempted to balance his activities. Despite his illegitimate occupation, he had become a highly visible public figure. He made daily trips to City Hall, opened soup kitchens to feed the poor, and even lobbied for milk bottle dating to ensure the safety of the citys children. City officials often were embarrassed by the politic strength of Capone, and began leveraging his illegal activities through police raids, along with setting intentional fires to his places of business.
In the beginning, the public glamorized Capones activities and identified with him as a modern day Robin Hood. It wasnt long, however, before the public started weighing against him when it was believed that he had ordered the death of a famed local prosecutor named Billy McSwiggin. The young prosecutor had before tried to pin Capone with the violent murder of a rival gang member and he had a reputation for going after bootleggers. Although many speculated against Als involvement in McSwiggins death, there was a great outcry against gangster violence, and public sentiment went against Capone.
Capone quickly went into hiding, fearing he would be tried for McSwiggins murder. He remained out of sight for nearly three months, and then after realizing he couldnt live the remainder of his life underground, he negotiated his surrender to the Chicago Police. The authorities eventually recognized that they lacked sufficient evidence to bring Capone to trial, and though very unpopular with public opinion, he was set free. The public was outraged and law officials were left embarrassed. “Big Al” had become one of the most powerful crime czars in Chicago. It was said that Capone was now big as life, and more powerful than the mayor himself.
By 1929, Capones empire was worth over $62,000,000, and he was ready to wage war on his most prominent bootlegging rival, George “Bugs” Moran. Bugs was also one of the principal Chicago gangsters. He was known to publicly talk against Capone, and maintained a sense of spiteful arrogance that was said to anger Capone so much that Moran became one of Als routine topics of discussion. It was rumored that Capone gave orders to take Bugs down by assassinating his gang members from the bottom, not stopping until they reached Bugs.
Capone was living lavishly in Palm Beach, and assigned one of his top associates “Machine Gun” McGurn to mastermind the hit. McGurn had one of his bootleggers lure members of the Moran gang into a garage to buy liquor at an unreasonably cheap price. The deal was made and the delivery was scheduled to take place on Valentines Day. McGurn and his men awaited them in stolen police uniforms. When they arrived, McGurns gang pretended to be police making a bust, and ordered all of Morans men to stand facing the wall. Thinking that they had just been caught by police, seven members of the Moran gang turned to the wall awaiting arrest. McGurn and his men opened fire with machine guns, fatally killing the gangsters. Bugs, who saw the police car before stopping and thought it was a raid, fled the scene. Capone was credited with what would be deemed one of the most famous mass murders in American history, the St. Valentines Day Massacre.
The St. Valentines Day Massacre received national attention, and Capone was glamorized in books and newspapers across the country. Capone was a high class, family oriented and self-made gangster-millionaire who now had the attention of everyone. Many of the local politicians were complaining about Capone and his self proclaimed political stature. The publicity ultimately backfired and