Alcatraz Daily Inmate Schedule

  • 7:00

    Prisoners are woken up by the cell house bell. Prisoners are expected to get up, shave, get dressed, make their beds, and clean their cell before leaving.
  • 7:20

    Second morning bell. Prisoners cell doors are opened. All inmates are to stand quietly outside their cell facing forward. The inmates are expected to remain standing until the second bell sounds indicating a correct count. Absolute silence is the rule during every count process. Inmates are marched into the mess hall in line numbers by order of tier. Inmates are expected to sit in cell order.
  • 7:30

    reakfast. Prisoners are allowed to take as much food as they like as long as they eat everything. The motto is well known among inmates "Take what you like, eat what all that you take." Inmates are allowed to talk quietly during meals, and when finished, they are expected to prominently place all of their silverware on their trays. In order, correctional officers count silverware for each place set and validate counts.
  • 7:50

    Breakfast concludes. Inmates line up for their work details. Inmates with no work assignments are led back to their cells by order of tier. Inmates with work assignments in the industries are led to the Recreation Yard and lined up by work detail (primary details are laundry, tailor shop, glove, shoe, gardening, standard labor and metal shop).
  • 8:00

    Inmates are led by division to their respective assignments down the steep stair ledge and through the snitch box (metal detector) and expected to line up at their duty post for counts. Counts are completed and validated by correctional officers.
  • 8:20

    Work details begin.
  • 10:00

    Inmates are given an eight-minute break. Inmates are allowed to smoke during the break in designated areas.
  • 10:08

    Prison industries whistle signals end of break and allows inmates two minutes to return back to their duty assignment
  • 11:35

    Prison industries whistle signals end of work period. Inmates are lined up and marched through the snitch box (metal detector), up the stair trail into the recreation yard for counts before lunch. After counts are validated inmates are led into the mess hall.
  • 12:00

    Lunch begins.
  • 12:20

    Lunch period concludes. In order, correctional officers count silverware for each place set and validate counts. Inmates are lined up and marched back to their cells for the 12:30 count and then locked-up for short break.
  • 13:00

    Inmates assigned to work details are marched back to the recreation yard awaiting counts. Inmates are led back to their duty post and counts validated by correctional officers.
  • 13:20

    Work resumes…
  • 15:00

    Prison industries whistle signals end of work period. Inmates are allowed to break in designated areas to smoke.
  • 15:08

    Prison industries whistle signals end of break and allows inmates two minutes to return back to their duty assignment.
  • 15:10

    Work resumes…
  • 16:10

    Work period ends…
  • 16:20

    Prisoners are led back to recreation yard, lined-up and prepared for counts. Prisoners are counted and led back to the dining hall for dinner.
  • 16:35

    Prisoners not on work assignments are released from cells and marched into the dining hall for dinner meal.
  • 16:40

    Supper
  • 17:00

    Dinner period concludes. In order, correctional officers count silverware for each place set and validate counts. Prisoners are lined up and led back to their cells for count. Inmates are permitted to enter cells and locked down for the night.
  • 17:30

    Final lock-up count…
  • 21:30

    Inmate evening count and then lights out.