Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years

by Michael Esslinger

  CELL ISSUE EQUIPMENT 2 shelves 2 sheets stationary 2 envelopes 1 can cleanser 3 pencils 1 Radio Headset 1 sink stopper 1 75-watt light bulb 4 wall pegs 1 whisk broom 1 lamp shade 1 set INSTITUTION REGULATIONS 1 roll toilet tissue 1 drinking cup 1 ash tray 2 cleaning rags 1 wastebasket

  NO SPECIAL SHELVES, BOXES, DESKS OR PICTURE FRAMES WILL BE ALLOWED

  BEDDING 2 Mattresses (Maximum) 2 sheets 2 pillows 1 to 4 blankets 2 pillow cases (if 2 pillows]

  TOILET ARTICLES 1 shaving cup 2 razor blades 1 safety razor 1 cake soap 1 comb 1 shaving brush 1 pair nail clippers 1 mirror 1 can toothpowder 1 face towel 1 toothbrush 1 cake shaving soap

  You will keep your property card listing your personal property, above your cell door behind the locking mechanism.

  31. CLASSIFICATION, PAROLE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL MATTERS: At this institution, these functions center in the Parole Office and you are free to request an interview with the Parole Officer when problems arise concerning these matters.

  CLASSIFICATION: You will be reclassified each year shortly before or during the month of your parole eligibility date (except military prisoners who are reclassified just prior to their military annual review dates) and you will be given an opportunity to appear at the Classification Committee meeting to present any problems you may wish to discuss with the Committee.

  PAROLE: A few months before your Parole Eligibility Date, you may file an application for a parole hearing. If you do not choose to file at that time, you may sign a waiver. This waiver will not interfere with your right to file for a hearing at a later date.

  EDUCATION: Although there are no school classes at this institution, limited facilities are provided for cell study of books available from the library or from correspondence schools. Library rules are listed in Section #45.

  SOCIAL MATTERS: If you have social problems outside the institution, such as correspondence problems, you are free to request an interview with the Parole Officer. The Parole Officer will also help you with the development of your release plans.

  32. CLOTHING: The standard inmate uniform for all normal activities inside the cellhouse consists of: blue chambray shirt, Blue & White (B&W) trousers, web waist belt and issue shoes. This uniform is worn at visits, interviews, meals, movies, etc. Your shirt will be buttoned except for the top collar button. The sleeves will be rolled down and buttoned. Your belt will be worn with your register number in plain view, at the center of your back.

  You are required to wear this standard uniform to and from outside work or the Recreation Yard, but you may add to it your cap, jacket, coat or raincoat. You may wear tennis shoes to the Recreation Yard only.

  You will wear your robe and slippers or shoes when going to and from bath.

  You are not allowed to change or alter any of your issue clothing. Keep your clothing neat, clean and in good repair at all times.

  Special work clothing is issued for work details. This special clothing will be kept at the place of work and will not be brought to the Yard or cellhouse.

  Culinary inmates wear a special work uniform consisting of white cap, white shirt and white pants. This uniform is issued for work only but is worn between the cell and Culinary Unit. Culinary workers are cautioned to be wearing their complete uniform with all buttons except the top collar button fastened before leaving their cells to go to work.

  INMATES WILL BE ISSUED ON ARRIVAL: 1 B & W Pants 1 Cap 1 wool coat 1 Blue shirt 1 belt 1 pr shorts 1 bathrobe 3 pairs socks 2 handkerchief 1 Rain coat 2 pairs shoes 1 wool undershirt (on request) 1 pair slippers 1 lt undershirt

  AUTHORIZED EXTRA CLOTHING ISSUE: Culinary workers: 1 white shirt: 1 white cap: 1 white pants. Barbers: 1 white shirt. Office Orderlies: 1 white shirt. Passmen: 1 white shirt: 1 white pants. Hosp. Orderlies: 1 white shirt: 1 white pants.

  When they are available, heavy undershirts may be issued upon request to the Clothing Room Officer. They are issued on the call-out list after the Saturday bath. Heavy undershirts are worn for a full week and are not exchanged on Tuesday bath line.

  Clothing issue, replacement and repair are scheduled during Saturday bathline. Inspect your issue clothing when you receive it. Make certain that you have your own clothing and that all of it is in the lot. Report immediately any discrepancies to the Clothing Room Officer and tell him of your needs for replacement or repairs. If the service cannot be provided immediately, you will be recalled after the bathline for attention.

  If you damage your clothing accidentally during the week, notify the Cellhouse Officer and you may be permitted to go to the Clothing Room for repairs or an emergency issue.

  33. DINING ROOM RULES: Meals are served three times a day in the dining room. Do not exceed the ration. Do not waste food. Do not carry food from the dining room.

  Wear standard uniform. (See Section #32).

  Conduct yourself in a quiet, orderly manner. You may converse in normal tones with persons near you. Boisterous conduct will not be tolerated in the dining room.

  Observe the ration posted on the menu board and take all that you wish to eat within the allotted amounts, but you must eat all that you take.

  You may go to the coffee urn on your side of the dining room only when no other inmate is there. Do not go to the urn for the purpose of visiting with others.

  Do not pass or exchange food, cigarettes, notes or any other items anywhere in the dining room.

  You will be given ample time to eat but no loitering will be permitted.

  Shortages of silverware at the table must be reported to the Officer immediately before beginning to eat.

  After you have finished eating, place your silverware in the right hand compartment of your tray. Empty bread, cake or pie trays and pitchers will be passed to the end of the table toward the center of the Dining Room. Inmates seated at that end of the table will arrange them for inspection by the officer assigned to the table.

  When all inmates on a table have finished eating, the inspecting Officer will give the signal to rise and leave the dining room. Proceed in single file directly to your cell. Enter your cell without delay. Do not loiter or visit on the galleries. Do not enter another inmate's cell at any time. Cell door will be locked as soon as you enter your cell.

  34. HAIRCUTS AND SHAVES: Haircuts will be of regulation type. You are not permitted to wear your hair in an unusual manner or have any special haircut except as authorized by the Associate Warden.

  You will be placed on call for a haircut approximately every three weeks. You will be told when you are scheduled for it.

  You may be allowed to go to the Recreation Yard after your haircut if you are in good standing. You will shave in your cell. Razor blades are exchanged each Saturday by the Evening Watch Officer. Two new blades are issued in exchange for your two old blades. Failure to account for both of your blades at any time will result in a disciplinary report. Loss of a razor blade must be reported to the Cellhouse Officer immediately. Do not wait until issue night to report the loss. You must be clean shaven at all times. No special beards, mustaches or goatees are allowed.

  35. INTERVIEWS: If you wish an interview with the Warden, Associate Warden, Captain, or other Official, submit a written request slip stating briefly what you wish to discuss and give the request slip to the Cellhouse Officer. You will be notified when to remain in your cell for the interview.

  36. MEDICAL ATTENTION: Medical attention is available to all inmates. A member of the Hospital Staff conducts a daily Sick-Call line in the Cellhouse at about 12:30 P.M. To attend sick-call, proceed directly to the West End of the Cellhouse and stand quietly in line until called. After consultation, return directly to your cell. Do not loiter or visit on the gallery. If you become ill at any time, notify an Officer and you will receive medical attention. Do not make unnecessary disturbances. When you receive a medical lay-in, you will remain in your cell except for religious services, meals and movies. If you are notified by the Medical Officer at sick-call to remain in your cell for Hospital call-out, you must do so. Y
ou are allowed to keep in your cell only those medications issued to you by the Hospital Staff. Empty and unused bottles are to be returned to the West End desk. No medications will be kept in your cell longer than 30 days.

  37. MOVEMENT OF INMATES: All inmate movements will be by block and galleries, to yard, work, meals, sick-line, band room and bathline. Movements will be from cells to West End of the Cellhouse and then to destination. Movements to picture shows and Religious Services will be from cells to East End of cellhouse and then to Auditorium. All movements from yard will be by galleries. Inmates will line up by cellblocks and galleries in the designated areas on the yard and proceed to the cellhouse as called by the Yard Officer. While awaiting the signal for your gallery to come in, do not wander around in other gallery lines, or indulge in scuffling or jostling with others. Industries and other "outside" details will return tn the cellhouse without lining-up in the yard.

  38. SUPPLIES: Toilet tissue, matches, soap, cleanser, etc., will be issued on Tuesdays and Saturdays during

  bathlines. Writing paper and envelopes are issued only on Tuesdays. Toothpowder will be issued on either of the bathdays in exchange for your empty container. Toothbrushes, combs and fingernail clippers will be issued by the Clothing Room Officer, after a proper request slip has been submitted. Your old item must be exchanged for the new item.

  39. WORK REGULATIONS: If you are assigned to an Industries shop, go to your place of work as stated in Section #28. Do not leave your assigned station in the shop without permission from your Forernan or Officer.

  Work assignments are made by the Associate Warden. If you wish a work assignment or re-assignment, send a request slip to the Associate Warden and state your experience in the type of work you are requesting. Send a separate slip with this information for each job application. Work changes will not be made for trivial reasons. Your request will be considered only on the basis of merit, and then only when a vacancy exists.

  When in need of advice regarding your work or work assignment, consult the Associate Warden by interview slip.

  The regular work-reports submitted by your superiors, supervisors, foremen, shop Officer or other Official are taken into consideration at all hearings for other matters. Special attention is paid to work reports at your hearings before Board meetings for consideration of restoration of forfeited good-time, transfer, parole reports, clemency and/or work changes.

  Do not take issue with an Officer, foreman, supervisor or civilian employee on account of any order he may issue to you. If it should seem to you that such person is exceeding his authority or abusing his office, do not argue. Follow his instructions and report the matter to the Associate Warden after the duty is performed.

  Smoking is permitted in designated areas. If in doubt, ask your foreman or Officer.

  Do not carry any unauthorized articles to or from your place of work.

  Do not carry work clothing from the work area to the cellhouse.

  Removing tools or other articles from your work area is forbidden. Do not loan any tools or other work material to any inmate without the express approval of your superiors.

  Immediately report any injury received while at work. If you become ill, report to your foreman.

  Do not manufacture any unauthorized or contraband article, nor perform any unauthorized service for yourself or for any other inmate. Do not assist or interfere with another inmate's work except as directed by an Officer or foreman.

  40. AUDITORIUM RULES: When preparing to attend religious services or movies, in the Auditorium, you must remove everything from your pockets except your handkerchief and eyeglasses and eyeglass case. All other items will be classed as contraband. There is no smoking permitted in the Auditorium and you are not allowed to wear or carry, caps, coats, jackets, cushions, blankets or pillows. Use the East-End cellhouse stairs when going to and from the Auditorium. Walk quietly and be co-operative if and when you are searched for contraband. Upon arrival at the Auditorium, take the seat assigned. If you have poor vision, and wish to sit in the front seats tell the Officer who is directing the seating. After being seated, remain in your seat until the Officer directs you to leave. Loud talking, pushing or boisterous conduct is forbidden. In general, you are expected to conduct yourself in an orderly manner, with proper consideration for the rights of others.

  Leaving the Auditorium before the end of the program is permitted only in emergencies. Quietly notify the Officer in charge and he will permit you to leave. You will not be able to return to the Auditorium. The privilege of attending Religious Services and movies is important to you. This privilege may be withdrawn for violation of the rules.

  41. CORRESPONDENCE: Upon entrance to the institution, each inmate will be given a form to fill out, listing the persons with whom he wishes permission to correspond. After approval of the list, inmates may correspond only with the approved correspondents. You will refrain from discussing other inmates or institutional affairs. Violent or abusive letters will not be mailed. Correspondence is limited to two (2) outgoing and seven (7) incoming letters a week. All regular inmate mail will be collected by the evening watch Officer in the cellhouse. Writing materials are issued during the Tuesday P.M. bathline, at the supply table in the clothing room.

  SEALED CORRESPONDENCE: As stated in Section 27, sealed correspondence may be addressed to certain Officials. Such letters may be sealed and placed in the special mail box which is located at the West End of the Cellhouse. You are not required to place any identifying information on the envelope and it will be forwarded to the Bureau without inspection.

  SPECIAL HOLIDAY MAIL: In addition to your regular mail privileges you will be allowed to send your Mother an extra letter on Mother's Day. At Christmas time you will be allowed to mail (4) Christmas Cards. You may receive greeting cards only on the following occasions: Christmas, Easter, Father's Day and your birthday.

  Inmates will not ask Officers, Officials or civilians to write or post letters for them or receive mail through Officers, Civilians or Officials except when acting in their official capacity.

  ... YARD PRIVILEGES: Exercise yard rules:

  All inmates in good standing are allowed the yard privilege on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, if the weather permits. In addition, inmates who have completed their assigned tasks, or who have been "laid in" by detail foremen, or who have been "held in" for haircut, medical attention, interview or other Official business, may be allowed the yard privilege on weekday afternoons if they are otherwise eligible.

  Inmates who are "restricted" or who are in "idle" status because they have quit a job, or refused a job, or were removed from a job for disciplinary reasons, are not eligible for weekday afternoon yard.

  Inmates held in for dental or hospital call may have yard after their appointments, subject to the Doctor's approval.

  Inmates using cushions, tables or other institutional athletic equipment must return the same to the metal detector when recreation period is over.

  No gambling is allowed. You may play chess, checkers or backgammon. Authorized card games are Hearts, Cribbage, and dominoes. No card game will be allowed if it is a "draw" type of game or does not use the full deck on the deal.

  All card tables will be set up behind the screens at the West-End of the yard. All games will cease immediately when the bell rings for the termination of the yard period. No loitering will be permitted to finish uncompleted hands or games.

  43. USE OF TYPEWRITERS: You are permitted to work on your own case or to hire a lawyer to represent you. A typewriter is available if you are able to type. Apply to the Associate Warden for permission. You are not permitted to work on another inmate's case or to give another innate legal advice or instructions. After you obtain permission to use the typewriter, you will be notified when a machine is available. You will bring all materials to "A" Block where they will be inspected. All typing material, books, papers, etc., will remain in "A" Block until the typing has been completed. All papers will be signed and labe
led. One copy of all papers typed shall be made for the Institution records. After the Associate Warden has inspected the papers, your copy will be returned to you.

  44. LIBRARY RULES: Each cell contains a catalog which lists all of the books contained in the library. If you do not have a library catalog or library card, address a request to the Librarian to obtain one. Fill out this card with your name, register number and cell location.

  (1) To request delivery of library books to your cell, refer to the catalog for the "Call" or identification number of the book you want and place that number on your library card. Place the card on the table at the entrance to the dining room on your way to breakfast. Return books in the same manner.

  (2) The library books you request are checked out to you and must be returned within the time limit shown on the DATE-DUE slip inside the back cover of the book. Failure to return the book to the library prior to or on the date due, may result in forfeiture of library privileges.

  (3) You are permitted to have not more than three CIRCULATING library books in your cell at one time. Keep your books and magazines neatly arranged on the shelf in the cell when they are not being read.

  (4) In addition to the circulating books, you are permitted to have a Bible, Dictionary and study books up to a maximum of twelve (12) in your cell at one time. This includes all books, personal, library and study course books. Books beyond the maximum of 12 will be confiscated.

  A maximum of 24 pamphlets may be kept in your cell at one time. Pamphlets beyond this maximum will be confiscated.

  (5) Handle library books carefully. Many of the worn out books, especially fiction books, can not be replaced since they are out of print. You are cautioned not to loan or exchange books with other inmates or to toss books to other tiers or the flag. Defacement, mutilation or destruction of books will be cause for disciplinary action even to the extent of forfeiture of good time.