Al Capone Does My Shirts introduction
Alcatraz
- the island was originally owned by the military. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, work began to turn the facility in to the strictest and most secure detention center in the country.
- contained ceiling teargas canisters, metal detectors, and renovated jail cells. Alcatraz was designed to be high security and escape-proof.
- three classes of prisoners depending on behavior and crimes committed
- your class determined what your privilages were
- 3rd class prisoners were not allowed to read or receive letters and were to remain silent at all times. They had a strict diet of bread and water only, remained on a 12 lb. ball and chain, and were in solitary confinement all day everyday.
Famous Gangsters
Al Capone
- became member of the 5 points gang
- convicted of 7 years in prison for tax evasion
Frank Morris
- born in NYC and served lunch to prisoners as his childhood job
- escaped from Alcatraz in 1963 and was never seen again
Robert Stroud
- original conviction was manslaughter for 12 years
- spent 17 years in Alcatraz before his death
John Stadig
- attemped to escape from Alcatraz before he even arrived
- counldn't feed himself and turned himself in 8 days later
Gennifer Choldenko
- her first job was braiding horses manes tails for shows
- did research for her Alcatraz books by working on the island
- her favorite character is Theresa because it reminds her of herself when she was young
- her sister, Gina, has autism
Autism
- Autism is a condition that causes a person to experience the world differently than most other people.
Children With Autism
- have trouble linking words with what they mean
- like routine and consistency
- find it difficult to interpret things they see, smell, taste, or touch
- usually have a lot of trouble communicating what they want or need
- If someone has autism, his or her brain has trouble making connections and communicating.
Autism Facts
- one in every 150 kids is autistic
- there is no known cause or cure for autism
- children with mild autism can go to school with little difficulty
- people with autism often have temper tantrums or mood swings that they have no control over
what can we do?
"Scarface"
- in 1927, he was worth $100,000,000
"Birdman of Alcatraz"
- died at 48 years old of syphilis
- spent over 50 years in prison
- stabbed and killed a prison guard then convicted to death by hanging
- convicted of counterfeiting
- jumped from a moving train and broke both hands
- was in jail several times for crimes ranging from narcotics to armed robbery
- committed suicide while in jail