Childhood Reading Experiences
As a result of the Great Depression, a new breed of violent criminals swept the streets of America. In response to the cries of alarmed citizens, Congress enacted a number of statutes, which gave the federal government jurisdiction over certain criminal offenses previously held by the states. With the suggestion of former US Attorney General, Homes Cummings, Congress agreed that a special penal institution of maximum security and minimum privilege be established. In 1934, the legendary US Penitentiary of Alcatraz was born and became the home of Americas most wanted for the next thirty years. Once authorized by Congress, the US Department of Justice acquired control of Alcatraz Island, previously a US Army compound. As the island was redeveloped into a maximum-security prison, seven of its twelve acres were enclosed in a prison compound. The remaining five were set aside for employee residences, apartments, and recreational space. Soon after the redesigning of the old Army fortress, the Alcatraz prison was ready for the grand opening (or better said lockout!). Equipped with four different cellblocks, A, B, C and D, the Rock began its operations on January 2, 1934. Although cellblock A was seldom used, B, C and D
provided 378 "cages" to accommodate the most notorious felons that America could produce. Arriving on the second "official" shipment of prisoners was George "Machine Gun" Kelly. After an initial sentence at Leavenworth, Kelly emerged from prison to a lucrative career in bank robbery and kidnapping. Kelly's capture resulted in a courtroom sensation at the first Lindbergh Law Trial and a life-sentence that send him back to Leavenworth. He was transferred to the Penitentiary of Alcatraz in September of 1934 for a period of seventeen years. After suffering a mild heart attack, he was returned to Leavenworth where he was paroled in 1954. Soon after his parole, a final heart attack ended his life at the age of 59.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Corrections Johnston, Alcatraz Island, Rock Capone's, Alcatraz September, Morris Anglin, , Penitentiary Alcatraz, Leavenworth Kelly, Department Justice, Cummings Congress, penitentiary alcatraz, department justice, robbery kidnapping, official shipment, heart attack, transferred penitentiary, escaping prison, alcatraz prison,
Approximate Word count = 1015
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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