Published July 29, 2020

Walls tell stories. People remember buildings for many different things. Some people remember them for their unique architecture, but more often than not, it’s the stories that stick.

Prisons are riddled with unbelievable tales of bloodshed, conspiracy, and great escapes. These tales have made them famous, earning them a place in the history books.

These are 10 of The Most Famous Prisons That Left a Mark in History.

Alcatraz Island

Also known as The Rock, Alcatraz is one of the most fortified prisons in the world, located in San Francisco Bay, California. If you’re a prisoner planning to escape, the security is only the beginning of your concerns. This island is surrounded by treacherous waters that reach temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If that isn’t enough to trouble you, the currents are incredibly strong, sometimes bringing you out towards the Pacific.

In the mid-1900s, it housed some of the most notorious civilian prisoners. Among these prisoners were Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and “Birdman” Robert Stroud. The prison was later abandoned in 1963, following problems with transporting freshwater.

Nowadays, Alcatraz serves as a famous tourist spot, open to the public.

Devil’s Island

To say this prison has witnessed many deaths is an understatement. It’s reported that out of the 60,000 prisoners that came to the island, only 2,000 survived. Located off the coast of French Guiana, this island is also surrounded by extremely dangerous waters.

Because of the dangers surrounding the island, you could only safely access it via cable car. Many prisoners may have thought of escape during their incarceration, but the sharks should have been enough to dissuade them. Sharks teemed the nearby waters since the bodies of many prisoners would be thrown into the sea.

Treatment on this island was anything but accommodating. Guards would stuff prisoners into cells far too small to fit them all. And punishment here came in the form of pitch-black isolation, away from any other soul for months. This island was home to various crimes against humanity, and I would not be at all shocked if their souls remain to this day.

Port Arthur

Located on the island of Tasmania, Port Arthur was constructed in 1830, initially as a timber camp. Not long after, it was transformed into a prison to keep criminals flowing in from Britain.

Port Arthur quickly turned from an innocent timber camp to the Separate Prison, otherwise known as “Hell on Earth.” When it started, its idea of reforming men was physical punishment. But after some time, they found this to be counterproductive, as it supposedly “hardened” the criminals. Instead, they introduced maddening durations of solitary confinement. Prisoners were placed in total darkness between several hours to 30 days, living only on bread and water.

Robben Island

Now recognized as a world heritage site, Robben Island served as a prison for over 400 years. Robben Island is located roughly 6km from Bloubergstrand, South Africa. It was in the year 1671 that the Dutch started using it as a prison. Dutch colonies started sending their “undesirables” and political prisoners all the way here to isolate them from the world.

As soon as the British annexed South Africa in 1806, they continued to use Robben Island as the prison that it was. Later in 1845, the government had accepted the plan to create a colony for the “unwanted” and “unloved” people. “Unwanted” encompassed the homeless, alcoholics, prostitutes, and those with STDs. The people sent to this island were then met with inhumane punishment, even for that time.

During the time of apartheid, many of the black population were kept here as political prisoners. The most noteworthy prisoner has to be former president Nelson Mandela.

Château d’If

One of the most famous prisons in Europe, Château d’If, is found in the Bay of Marseille. This prison looks more like a fortified fortress than anything. Most French prisoners, ranging from heinous criminals to political offenders, were sent here. This place notably rose to fame in the 19th century, following its mention in Alexandre Dumas’ famous novel, “The Count of Monte Cristo.” The story depicts the hero Edmond Dantès and how he survived 14 excruciating years on the island before eventually escaping.

His escape is contrary to reality, as there have been no recorded escapes from this prison throughout its history. This prison was incredibly infamous for in-house politicking, where wealthy political offenders lived in luxury while poor criminals wasted away in the worst conditions.

Published July 16, 2020

Rape is an absolutely heinous crime. It is the act of engaging in non-consensual or forced sexual intercourse with another person (victim). This can happen to victims who are intoxicated or have been drugged.

Second-degree rape is a grave crime punishable by mandatory jail time. However, the definition and punishment of which varies across states. I’ve gone through different state laws and gathered some common definitions of it.

Rape is considered to be in the second degree when:

1. The act does not meet the definition of first-degree rape. 
2. The act occurred without consent or with the offender’s use or threat of force.
3. The offender is at least 18 years old, and his or her victim is younger than 14 years old.
4. The victim is either physically helpless, mentally incapacitated, or mentally disabled, making them incapable of giving consent.

In a similar fashion to the definition, the punishments vary across states as well. Second-degree rape is considered a felony act in most, if not all, states. The felony class it falls under differs as well.

The actual punishments for a class B felony depend on the jurisdiction where the crime happened.

Published July 01, 2020

Drunk driving laws vary for each state. But in general, the first offense will only be considered a misdemeanor. Depending on the circumstances, subsequent DUI convictions may or may not constitute a felony.

In all states, you are considered impaired if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is more than .08%. But for drivers under 21 years old, any amount of BAC can warrant a DUI charge in most states. Though at the federal level, the limit is 0.2%. In some states, the higher the BAC, the harsher the punishment will be.

Though laws vary, DUI offenders usually undergo an alcohol evaluation. Their drinking habits will be assessed and they’re also likely to receive an alcohol education.

Even if you won’t be caught by the police, you should never drive while drunk. It not only endangers you, but it also puts the lives of other drivers at risk.

When a DUI is Considered Misdemeanor

As mentioned, the first DUI offense will mostly just earn a misdemeanor conviction. In some states like Illinois, a second DUI will also just be considered a misdemeanor. If someone is killed, however, even a first offense can lead to felony charges.

Misdemeanors usually carry a prison sentence of not more than 12 months, a penalty of less than $1,000, and probation.

When DUI Becomes Felony

Certain aggravating circumstances can elevate your DUI from a mere misdemeanor to felony. These are:

Prior DUI Convictions

Most of the time, a prior DUI conviction can be used as an aggravating circumstance. In some states, if your prior DUI conviction happened more than 5 or 10 years ago, it won’t affect your current DUI charge. While other states don’t have these prescription periods. If you have a prior conviction, no matter how long ago it was, you will still be charged with a felony.