Federal Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall III expressed confidence in the viability of using Alcatraz again, stating that he is “really excited” about putting the facility back to use.
President Donald Trump directed multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to rebuild the Alcatraz Island federal prison. The infamous jail would be used “to house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” Trump’s directive comes as his administration has prioritized deporting illegal immigrants out of the United States.
Marshall commended the president for “the way he thinks,” and described “how exciting” it is to be able to reopen Alcatraz.
“When you think of Alcatraz, you think of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, those types of facilities, you just get that kind of feeling about Alcatraz when you think of those historical venues,” Marshall stated on Fox News’s My View with Lara Trump. “And so yeah, we absolutely think we can get it done. We’ve got engineering teams out there now that are doing some assessments, and so I’m just really excited about the opportunity and possibilities.”
When asked about the timeframe for when Alcatraz can officially be back in business, Marshall revealed he needed to visit the location to take “a look at the landscape.” He described how most of the prison could be made of new materials that are not nearly as heavy, ensuring the island can withstand “the weight-bearing.”
On reestablishing law and order in the country, Marshall disclosed that he wants to visit the nation’s prison facilities and see what people there “have to say.” He added that he wants to restore “a sense of accountability” in the nation, suggesting he could bring some of the traits he acquired as a West Virginia law enforcement officer to the bureau to make it “as great as it can possibly be.”
Earlier this month, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) expressed enthusiasm for Trump’s plans to reopen Alcatraz, suggesting the president is providing both “punishment” and “deterrence” through such initiatives. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), meanwhile, has suggested Alcatraz could cover the West Coast while Rikers Island would imprison the East Coast’s worst criminals.
