The discovery of life; an odyssey of Alcatraz inmate Jimmy Quillen

During our recent visit to San Francisco, we took the opportunity to visit Alcatraz prison. The audio guide available during the trip pretty much explains the brief history, the life and times many well known inmates and the brutal escape attempt of May 2, 1946 when many guards including three escapees were killed. This was the bloodiest escape attempt ever made and the last attempt by force and violence. The main narrator in the audio tour is one of the former inmates himself, Jim Quillen, who was incarcerated for repeated crimes; mainly assault and robbery. The author personally experienced the life as an inmate and also witnessed the bloodiest escape attempt of 1946. He has made his best efforts to convey to the readers about the prison life and in the process reflects upon the injustices done by the legal system to many Alcatraz inmates. His life is full of sadness; being born to a mother addicted to alcohol, the author did not have much of a childhood and he enters the world of crime at an early age and eventually enters the America's notorious prison, the Alcatraz. The beauty of this book is that it is not only about Alcatraz but also about the author himself. At the end of his incarceration, he reforms himself to be a model prisoner, acquiring high school diploma and gaining work experience in the prison hospital as an X-ray technician. When he was released from prison, he is welcomed by his loving sister and her family and then, step-by-step, he integrates into the society by having a good job and supporting himself, getting married and then supporting his daughter. He petitioned to the president of United States for unconditional pardon in 1979 and it was granted in 1980. In 1981 he petitions to the governor of California for pardon.

I always thought that the escape attempt depicted in the movie "Escape from Alcatraz" starring Clint Eastwood was the only escape attempt. But the author describes that there were 14 escape attempts. The escape attempt number 13 by two brothers, John and Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris, were apparently successful in reaching the mainland and disappearing from San Francisco. After this daring escape, no one has ever heard or seen them. This is the story that is used in the Clint Eastwood movie.

The life of Jim Quillen proves that no man is beyond rehabilitation, regardless of how far has fallen from the norms of the society. This book opened my eyes and lessened my own hard views on convicted criminals. I think an individual is a prisoner of his own thoughts and personal circumstances. Quillen came from a dysfunctional family, which contributed negatively to his development. This is well illustrated by the story of Jim Quillen.

Reference:

Alcatraz from Inside: The Hard Years 1942-1952

by Jim Quillen