Despite its reputation, with many former inmates calling it "Hellcatraz," some prisoners reported that the living conditions there were much better than most other prisons in the country, especially the food, and many volunteered to come to Alcatraz.
Men noget modstridende sit ry og den kendsgerning, at mange tidligere indsatte kaldte fængslet "Hellcatraz" baseret på de rædsler, nogle fanger rapporterede, meddelte andre fanger, at levevilkårene i Alcatraz var meget bedre end i de fleste andre fængsler i landet, især mht. maden, og mange ønskede frivilligt at afsone på Alcatraz.