Why can't people escape from Alcatraz?

Question

I was watching an interview and they were saying how you couldnt swim away from the prison and i was just wondering why. If you had the ability to swim it would seem like you would be able to escape.

Answer 1

Well, the main reason these days that no one can escape from Alcatraz is that no one is held there.



Back when it was operating as a prison, the main reasons why swimming away wasn't a workable plan at least for most people (some MAY have succeeded) were:



The distance.

The currents.

The cold water.

The guards, and their firearms.

The possibility of sharks.



Not necessarily in that order.

Answer 2

San Francisco Bay is cold (even in summer) and has many strong and dangerous currents. Although the shortest distance you would need to swim is only 2 km, you'd be swimming against the current all the way, making the effective distance 6 km.



There's also the slight problem that you'd be swimming at night, making it very difficult to actually find your way; and obviously it would be even colder.



Inmate were prohibited from taking cold showers, so they were unable to build their tolerance to cold water.



On top of all this, there were many guards with searchlights watching the shores and the water.