Should Alcatraz Be Reopened? Former Warden Philip Parker Weighs In
What would it take to reopen Alcatraz as a working prison? In this short video, corrections expert Philip W. Parker—former warden and author of Guard: A True Story of Duty, Sacrifice, and Leadership—shares his thoughts on Trump’s controversial proposal to bring the infamous prison island back online.
Parker doesn’t hold back. “It’s going to be costly,” he says, citing major infrastructure issues like water access. But more importantly, he questions the need altogether: “We already have a federal facility in Colorado that does an excellent job.”
Watch the full clip and decide for yourself: Is reopening Alcatraz about security—or symbolism?
📘 Guard is available now from Genius Book Publishing. Learn more here.