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Forgotten Prison

Forgotten Prison

Written by: KNKX Public Radio
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 McNeil Island in South Puget Sound is the Alcatraz you've never heard of. The now-abandoned prison on McNeil operated for 136 years. Today, the island is home to the Special Commitment Center, which houses Washington state's "sexually violent predators." A collaboration between KNKX and the Washington State Historical Society, Forgotten Prison tells the stories of inmates, guards, and children who grew up on the island. The history of this forgotten place can tell us a lot about how and why we lock people up.Pacific Public Media 2026 Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • TRAILER: Forgotten Prison, a new podcast about McNeil Island

    TRAILER: Forgotten Prison, a new podcast about McNeil Island
    Jan 15 2019
    KNKX premiers Forgotten Prison on Jan. 22, a new podcast featuring McNeil Island — the Alcatraz you've never heard of.
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    2 mins
  • Episode 1: Forgotten

    Episode 1: Forgotten
    Jan 22 2019
    There are a thousand stories about McNeil Island. And odds are, you haven't heard any of them. In Episode 1 of Forgotten Prison, hosts Simone Alicea and Paula Wissel explain how we came to abandon one of the country's first federal prisons.
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    28 mins
  • Episode 2: Not a Prison

    Episode 2: Not a Prison
    Jan 29 2019
    While the prison on McNeil Island closed in 2011, Washington state still runs the Special Commitment Center there. It's where the state keeps "sexually violent predators" who have served their prison time, but are deemed too dangerous to release into society. Technically, the commitment center is not a prison, but the reality is more complicated.
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    31 mins
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