AP Spotlight The federal Bureau of Prisons has lots of problems. Reopening Alcatraz is now one of them MICHAEL R. SISAK and MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press May 6, 2025 May 6, 2025 Updated Dec 22, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months. More than 4,000 staff vacancies. A $3 billion repair backlog.kAmp?5 ?@H[ 2 DEF??:?8 5:C64E:G6 7C@> !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 7@C E96 4C:D:D\A=28F65 7656C2= qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D E@ Q#tq&x{s[ p}s ~!t} p{rp%#p+PQ — E96 ?@E@C:@FD A6?:E6?E:2CJ @? 2? :D=2?5 :? $2? uC2?4:D4@ q2J E92E =2DE 96=5 :?>2E6D >@C6 E92? e_ J62CD 28@]k^AmkAmtG6? 2D E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D DECF88=6D H:E9 D9@CE DE277:?8[ 49C@?:4 G:@=6?46 2?5 4CF>3=:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2E :ED 4FCC6?E 724:=:E:6D[ %CF>A :D 4@F?E:?8 @? E96 286?4J E@ 7F=7:== 9:D G:D:@? @7 C63@@E:?8 E96 :?72>@FD=J :?6D42A23=6 AC:D@? <?@H? :? >@G:6D 2?5 A@A 4F=EFC6 2D Q%96 #@4<]Qk^Am People are also reading… Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal Smyth schools prepare to welcome Pre-K, kindergarten students at registration U.S. Sen. Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond Federal appeals court examines Liberty University firing over gender transition 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Virginia General Assembly going to special session to resolve budget standoff Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Marion OKs adding fee to delinquent taxes to help collect them Spanberger appoints 65 Virginians to state boards and commissions Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel kAm%CF>A 564=2C65 :? 2 D@4:2= >65:2 A@DE $F?52J E92E 2 QDF3DE2?E:2==J 6?=2C865 2?5 C63F:=EQ p=42EC2K H:== 9@FD6 E96 ?2E:@?VD Q>@DE CFE9=6DD 2?5 G:@=6?E ~776?56CD]Q xE H:== QD6CG6 2D 2 DJ>3@= @7 {2H[ ~C56C[ 2?5 y&$%xrt[Q 96 HC@E6 @? %CFE9 $@4:2=]k^AmkAm}6H=J 2AA@:?E65 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D s:C64E@C (:==:2> z] |2CD92== xxx D2:5 |@?52J E92E E96 286?4J QH:== G:8@C@FD=J AFCDF6 2== 2G6?F6D E@ DFAA@CE 2?5 :>A=6>6?E E96 !C6D:56?EVD 286?52Q 2?5 E92E 96 92D @C56C65 Q2? :>>65:2E6 2DD6DD>6?E E@ 56E6C>:?6 @FC ?665D 2?5 E96 ?6IE DE6AD]Qk^AmkAmQ&$! p=42EC2K 92D 2 C:49 9:DE@CJ] (6 =@@< 7@CH2C5 E@ C6DE@C:?8 E9:D A@H6C7F= DJ>3@= @7 =2H[ @C56C[ 2?5 ;FDE:46[Q |2CD92== D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E[ 649@:?8 %CF>AVD A@DE] Q(6 H:== 36 24E:G6=J H@C<:?8 H:E9 @FC =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 @E96C 7656C2= A2CE?6CD E@ C6:?DE2E6 E9:D G6CJ :>A@CE2?E >:DD:@?]Qk^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp=42EC2K H2D @?46 2? 6I6>A=2Ck^DA2?mk^9amkAmp=42EC2K[ 2 aa\24C6 :D=6E H:E9 G:6HD @7 E96 v@=56? v2E6 qC:586 2?5 E96 $2? uC2?4:D4@ D<J=:?6[ H2D @?46 E96 4C@H? ;6H6= @7 E96 7656C2= AC:D@? DJDE6> 2?5 9@>6 E@ D@>6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?VD >@DE ?@E@C:@FD 4C:>:?2=D[ :?4=F5:?8 82?8DE6CD p= r2A@?6 2?5 v6@C86 Q|249:?6 vF?Q z6==J]k^AmkAmqFE D<JC@4<6E:?8 C6A2:C 2?5 DFAA=J 4@DED 4@>A6==65 E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E E@ 4=@D6 E96 AC:D@? :? `heb[ ;FDE ah J62CD 27E6C :E @A6?65[ 2?5 E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D 92D =@?8 D:?46 C6A=2465 p=42EC2K H:E9 >@56C? A6?:E6?E:2C:6DkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm[ :?4=F5:?8 2 >2I:>F>\D64FC:EJ AC:D@? :? u=@C6?46[ r@=@C25@k^DA2?m]k^Am kAm%96 7@C>6C 2?5 A6C92AD 7FEFC6 A6?:E6?E:2CJ :D ?@H 2 A@AF=2C E@FC:DE 2EEC24E:@? 2?5 2 ?2E:@?2= 9:DE@C:4 =2?5>2C<] xEVD 4@?EC@==65 3J E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46 2D A2CE @7 E96 v@=56? v2E6 }2E:@?2= #64C62E:@? pC62[ >62?:?8 E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D 4@F=5 36 :? 7@C 2? :?E6C286?4J EF8 @7 H2C :7 :E EC:6D E@ HC6DE 2H2J 4@?EC@= @7 E96 :D=2?5]k^AmkAm%CF>AVD p=42EC2K 5:C64E:G6 :D J6E 2?@E96C 492==6?86 7@C E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D 2D :E DECF88=6D E@ 7:I =:?86C:?8 AC@3=6>D H9:=6 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ E96 AC6D:56?EVD AC:@C:E:6D @? :?42C46C2E:@? 2?5 :>>:8C2?E 56E6?E:@?] %96 286?4JVD >:DD:@?[ 2D C6567:?65 F?56C %CF>A[ :?4=F56D E2<:?8 :? E9@FD2?5D @7 :>>:8C2E:@? 56E2:?66D F?56C 2? 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ]k^Am kAm%96 AC@3=6>D 2E E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D EC2?D46?5 25>:?:DEC2E:@?D 2?5 724:=:E:6D]k^Am kAmp? @?8@:?8 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD :?G6DE:82E:@? 92D F?4@G6C65 566A[ AC6G:@FD=J F?C6A@CE65 7=2HD H:E9:? E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D @G6C E96 =2DE 76H J62CD[ :?4=F5:?8 H:56DAC625 4C:>:?2= 24E:G:EJ 3J 6>A=@J66D[ 5@K6?D @7 6D42A6D[ E96 7C66 7=@H @7 8F?D[ 5CF8D 2?5 @E96C 4@?EC232?5[ 2?5 D6G6C6 F?56CDE277:?8 E92E 92D 92>A6C65 C6DA@?D6D E@ 6>6C86?4:6D]k^AmkAm{2DE J62C[ E96?\!C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? D:8?65 2 =2H DEC6?8E96?:?8 @G6CD:89E @7 E96 286?4J] xE C6>2:?D E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?EVD =2C86DE 286?4J[ H:E9 >@C6 E92? b_[___ 6>A=@J66D[ `dd[___ :?>2E6D 2?5 2? 2??F2= 3F586E @7 23@FE Sg 3:==:@?[ 3FE E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD 4@DE\4FEE:?8 >62DFC6D 92G6 6=:>:?2E65 D@>6 A2J 3@?FD6D E92E H6C6 4C65:E65 H:E9 C6E2:?:?8 2?5 2EEC24E:?8 ?6H DE277]k^Am kAm%92E 92D C6DF=E65 :? =@?8 @G6CE:>6 D9:7ED 7@C D@>6 H@C<6CD 2?5 E96 4@?E:?F65 FD6 @7 2 A@=:4J <?@H? 2D 2F8>6?E2E:@?[ H96C6 AC:D@? ?FCD6D[ 4@@<D[ E62496CD 2?5 @E96C H@C<6CD 2C6 AC6DD65 :?E@ 5FEJ E@ 8F2C5 :?>2E6D]k^AmkAmx?7C2DECF4EFC6 :D 3F4<=:?8[ E@@] p qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D @77:4:2= E@=5 r@?8C6DD 2E 2 962C:?8 :? u63CF2CJ E92E >@C6 E92? c[___ 365D H:E9:? E96 DJDE6> — E96 6BF:G2=6?E @7 2E =62DE EH@ 7F== AC:D@?D — 2C6 F?FD23=6 3642FD6 @7 52?86C@FD 4@?5:E:@?D =:<6 =62<:?8 @C 72:=:?8 C@@7D[ >@=5[ 2D36DE@D @C =625]k^Am k9amkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qms62E9D 92G6 A=28F65 E96 7656C2= AC:D@? DJDE6>k^DA2?mk^9am kAm$:?46 >:5\|2C49[ `` 7656C2= AC:D@? :?>2E6D 92G6 5:65] %96J :?4=F56 s2G:5 z?6K6G:49[ 2 bf\J62C\@=5 u=@C:52 3FD:?6DD>2? H9@ H2D 7@F?5 5625 pAC:= ag :? 2 DFDA64E65 DF:4:56 2E 2 7656C2= ;2:= :? |:2>:] w6 H2D 2H2:E:?8 EC:2= @? 492C86D 96 <:5?2AA65 2?5 <:==65 9:D 6DEC2?865 H:76 :? $A2:?]k^AmkAmp?5 @? pAC:= ac[ :?>2E6 #2>2592? y223:C yFDE:46 H2D <:==65 :? 2 7:89E 2E E96 7656C2= A6?:E6?E:2CJ :? !@==@4<[ {@F:D:2?2[ H96C6 96 H2D D6CG:?8 2 ?62C=J ``\J62C D6?E6?46 7@C 2 4@?G:4E:@? C6=2E65 E@ 2? 2C>65 C@336CJ]k^Am kAmpD %CF>A H2D @C56C:?8 p=42EC2KVD C6@A6?:?8 $F?52J[ 4@CC64E:@?2= @77:46CD 2E E96 D2>6 |:2>: ;2:= H6C6 7:89E:?8 E@ 4FC3 E96 DAC625 @7 EF36C4F=@D:D 2?5 r~'xs\`hkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm[ :D@=2E:?8 :?>2E6D 27E6C E96J E6DE65 A@D:E:G6 7@C E96 5:D62D6Dk^DA2?m] {2DE >@?E9[ :>>:8C2E:@? 56E2:?66D 2E E96 724:=:EJ C:AA65 @FE 2 7:C6 DAC:?<=6C 2?5 7=@@565 2 9@=5:?8 46== 5FC:?8 2 =6?8E9J :?E2<6 AC@46DD]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ 23@FE b_ >:=6D 62DE @7 p=42EC2K[ E96 u656C2= r@CC64E:@?2= x?DE:EFE:@? :? sF3=:?[ r2=:7@C?:2[ 92D D2E :5=6 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 J62C 27E6C E96 qFC62F @7 !C:D@?D 4=62C65 :E @7 :?>2E6D :? E96 H2<6 @7 C2>A2?E D6IF2= 23FD6 3J 6>A=@J66D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 H2C56?]k^Am kAmx? s646>36C[ E96 286?4J >256 E96 4=@DFC6 A6C>2?6?E 2?5 :5=65 D:I AC:D@? 42>AD 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ E@ 255C6DD QD:8?:7:42?E 492==6?86D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 4C:E:42= DE277:?8 D9@CE286[ 4CF>3=:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2?5 =:>:E65 3F586E2CJ C6D@FC46D]Qk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm(9:=6 %CF>A 92:=D p=42EC2K 2D 2 A2C28@? @7 E96 7656C2= AC:D@? DJDE6>VD 496C:D965 A2DE[ @E96C 724:=:E:6D DE2?5 2D C6>:?56CD @7 :ED C646?E EC@F3=6D]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96J :?4=F56 E96 7656C2= ;2:= :? |2?92EE2?[ H9:49 C6>2:?D :5=6 27E6C y677C6J tADE6:?VD DF:4:56 E96C6 :? a_`h 6IA@D65 566A 7=2HD :? :ED @A6C2E:@?D[ 2?5 2 EC@F3=65 7656C2= =@4<FA :? qC@@<=J?[ H96C6 ab :?>2E6D 92G6 366? 492C865 :? C646?E >@?E9D H:E9 4C:>6D C2?8:?8 7C@> D>F88=:?8 H62A@?D :? 2 s@C:E@D 328 E@ E96 DE233:?8 =2DE >@?E9 @7 2 >2? 4@?G:4E65 :? E96 <:==:?8 @7 9:A\9@A =686?5 y2> |2DE6C y2J]k^DA2?mk^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story What's in Trump's big bill? Trillions in tax cuts, changes to Medicaid and more Republicans are moving quickly to advance Trump’s big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts and border security funding. Here's a look at what's i… DOJ says Epstein 'client list' doesn't exist, walking back theory Bondi had promoted It represents a public walk-back of a theory that the Trump administration itself had helped promote. MAGA faithful are angry about the Epstein case. Here's what to know Right-wing influencers were once bolstered by Trump's own claims on the Epstein case, but are now feeling their demands are being squelched by… Photos: A closer look at notorious Alcatraz prison President Donald Trump says he is directing the federal government to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the notorious former prison on a hard-to-rea… Watch Now: Related Video Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, AP source says Fed Chair Will Stay Put Until New Chair is Confirmed by Senate Fed Chair Will Stay Put Until New Chair is Confirmed by Senate Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral music videos AP Rapper Afroman wins lawsuit against police over mocking their 2022 raid in viral music videos Iran war begets fertilizer and other supply cost worries for US farmers Iran war begets fertilizer and other supply cost worries for US farmers
What's in Trump's big bill? Trillions in tax cuts, changes to Medicaid and more Republicans are moving quickly to advance Trump’s big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts and border security funding. Here's a look at what's i…
DOJ says Epstein 'client list' doesn't exist, walking back theory Bondi had promoted It represents a public walk-back of a theory that the Trump administration itself had helped promote.
MAGA faithful are angry about the Epstein case. Here's what to know Right-wing influencers were once bolstered by Trump's own claims on the Epstein case, but are now feeling their demands are being squelched by…
Photos: A closer look at notorious Alcatraz prison President Donald Trump says he is directing the federal government to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the notorious former prison on a hard-to-rea…
