An Island Prison of a Different Sort

Do you think a person who has been convicted of murder gets his "just dessert" if he is then murdered in prison by an inmate or guard? How many people would shed a tear if the man who murdered their wife, daughter, son, parent suddenly met the same fate? Should prisoners in "supermax" prisons be separated from each other instead of giving them the opportunity to mingle and, perhaps, kill each other off?

Instead of doing that, it might be worthwhile to consider an island prison somewhere off the coast of America. An island would have to be found with running water to provide electricity. As much as many people would not want to see a convicted killer enjoying the warmth and sunshine of a tropical isle, the money saved in heating costs alone would top thousands of dollars and would be available for other resources. Enough arable land should be available for growing crops and raising enough livestock and fowl to supply milk and meat for the inmates.

Similar to the concept of what happened in the movie entitled, Escape from New York", 1881 with Kurt Russell, when soaring crime rates escalated, the United States turned New York City into a maximum-security prison. This prison system would be only for hardened criminals already designated as not being a suitable candidate for rehabilitation because of their original conviction, committing a murder while in prison, having made multiple attempts at escape and those convicted of major drug crimes. It would be a working prison as many have been but with a different outlook. The prisoners housed there would only have each other to build a system to provide for their own needs. This would be for their entire lifetime in most cases with the exception that through their own works, they might be able to obtain freedom to live on another part of the island and not in a prison environment.

It would not be comparable to the type of prison that Alcatraz was where the inmates, convicted of major felony crimes, were kept in almost total isolation. Nor will it be like Blackwell's Island Prison where men were employed in the prison Workhouse. These inmates were typically those charged and known as the "drunk and disorderlies" and they served relatively short sentences.

Housing would be constructed out of material that would be as indestructible as possible. Living, kitchen, sleeping areas, and bathroom facilities would be constructed to be as durable as possible. Sleeping areas would include beds designed as built-in bunk types. Tables, chairs or other furniture would also be constructed out of durable materials. Personal items such as televisions, radios, and movies would be allowed, along with a recreational area. The recreational area would provide access to television, movies, and a game area. There would be no access to the Internet. On the other hand, if the prisoners destroyed their living quarters, they would have to make alternate arrangements to stay out of the weather and to take care of themselves.

All the United States would be obligated to do would be to supply raw materials for the inmates to use or make into whatever supplies were needed. A sawmill, a metal shop and tools, industrial sewing machines, kitchen facilities, utensils, bedding would be supplied for the initial settlement of the prisoners. After that, bolts of cloth suitable for clothing and bedding would be delivered and inmates would learn to make their own. Food would be delivered in bulk in cans and for freezers. Fresh food would be delivered only when in season. Furniture would be built as needed.

Medical facilities would not be available on site. Instead, a mobile hospital would be offshore and only reachable for emergencies and standard health care once a month. Communications with the prisoners would be set up so that notification would be instant and the ill prisoner delivered to the guards who would then transport them to the medical facility. Prisoners would be forced to develop a system in order to determine who needed medical help or when each person would be sent for standard care.

Among prisoners, they would determine who could sew, cook, clean, garden, repair, and maintain any equipment. They would be responsible for devising and maintaining a schedule of what jobs were done at what time and by whom. In essence, they would have to develop a type of governing body and societal norms that would allow them to do what needed done without fear of being killed by another inmate.

If an inmate should kill one of the prisoners within the population, the prisoners themselves would be left to handle the situation without fear of reprisal from guards or others outside of the prison system. Eventually, the killing would stop either because they will have decided it is a no win situation or because no one would be left to kill.

Guards would either be stationed around an outside perimeter of the island where prisoners would not be allowed to access or offshore in ships that would circle the island. The guards' sole duty would be to make sure no one escaped and would have nothing to do with the every day living arrangements of the prisoners.

It is a matter of debate whether to include women or even families of the inmates. Possibly, after the first year and if behavior and activities have not become a major issue, each inmate could request a family unit separate from the prison area on a monthly probationary system. If all requirements are met, then it could become a permanent position and could possibly develop into a town of law-abiding citizens. A school could be built and teachers selected from among the brightest inmates, who would have to acquire a teaching certificate.

Possibly, once all the really bad eggs have been disposed of by the prisoners, the island could become a self-sufficient entity capable of developing trade with the mainland. It would be their choice to die as a criminal or live as a self-sufficient individual and to develop and improve their economy and sellable items. With a working government, rules, laws that are enforced and societal norms comparable elsewhere, they could become acceptable citizens of the United States.

Sources:

U.S. Penitentiary Alcatraz

Blackwell's Island Prison and Workhouse