Escape Attempts Prior to 1962
Although most knew it was impossible, inmates still attempted to escape the penitentiary island to get back the freedom they longed for. As stated earlier, prior to 1962 there had been 36 escape attempts, with eight prisoners being killed by guards, and five died in the waters of the San Francisco Bay.
Although no one had successfully escaped up until 1962, the idea that people were willing to try to escape gave other prisoners hope of escape, which is why these attempts even occurred.