Forgotten Prison

KNKX Public Radio

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.

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Top 10 Forgotten Prison Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Forgotten Prison episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Forgotten Prison for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Forgotten Prison episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

New Podcast: The Walk Home

Forgotten Prison

09/07/22 • 32 min

KNKX Public Radio and The Seattle Times want to share a new podcast: The Walk Home. Listen to the first episode here. To get new episodes as they come out, look for The Walk Home wherever you get your podcasts or visit thewalkhomepodcast.org.

Episode 2: Not a Prison

Forgotten Prison

01/29/19 • 31 min

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.

Episode 1: Forgotten

Forgotten Prison

01/22/19 • 28 min

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.

UPDATE: Laura McCollum leaves the island

Forgotten Prison

06/18/19 • 8 min

Laura McCollum, who was profiled in Episode 2 of Forgotten Prison, has been conditionally released from the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. Hosts Simone Alicea and Paula Wissel spoke with KNKX's Kirsten Kendrick about what that means.

TRAILER: Forgotten Prison, a new podcast about McNeil Island

Forgotten Prison

01/15/19 • 1 min

KNKX premiers Forgotten Prison on Jan. 22, a new podcast featuring McNeil Island — the Alcatraz you've never heard of.

Outsiders: A new podcast about homelessness from KNKX and The Seattle Times

Forgotten Prison

01/29/20 • 3 min

Homelessness on the West Coast is rising to crisis levels at a time of historic economic growth and prosperity. Why? KNKX Public Radio and The Seattle Times' Project Homeless spent one year in a city that’s grappling with homelessness. What’s it like to live outside for months on end? What’s it like when tents come to your neighborhood? What new solutions can city leaders find?

Episode 6: Every Prison is an Island

Forgotten Prison

02/26/19 • 31 min

McNeil Island is an especially forgotten prison. But, in the end, all prisons are forgotten in some way. In the last episode of Forgotten Prison, hosts Simone Alicea and Paula Wissel wrestle with why that is.

Episode 5: It Happened Here

Forgotten Prison

02/19/19 • 36 min

Studying the history of an American prison is really just a study in American history. Pick a major event, and odds are good you can find at least one story related to McNeil Island.

Episode 4: Island Life

Forgotten Prison

02/12/19 • 31 min

One obvious thing that made the prison on McNeil unique was its island location. In Episode 4 of Forgotten Prison, we hear from former guards, inmates and children who grew up there, as well as someone descended from island homesteaders, about life in and around an island prison.

Episode 3: Designing Incarceration

Forgotten Prison

02/05/19 • 37 min

The abandoned prison on McNeil Island and its 136-year history can tell us a lot about why we lock people up and how it has changed over time. Hosts Simone Alicea and Paula Wissel explore the decaying structures on the island to learn how the modern American prison system came to be.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Forgotten Prison have?

Forgotten Prison currently has 10 episodes available.

What topics does Forgotten Prison cover?

The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, Documentary and Podcasts.

What is the most popular episode on Forgotten Prison?

The episode title 'New Podcast: The Walk Home' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Forgotten Prison?

The average episode length on Forgotten Prison is 24 minutes.

How often are episodes of Forgotten Prison released?

Episodes of Forgotten Prison are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Forgotten Prison?

The first episode of Forgotten Prison was released on Jan 15, 2019.

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Forgotten Prison

KNKX Public Radio

Top 10 Forgotten Prison Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Forgotten Prison have?

What topics does Forgotten Prison cover?

What is the most popular episode on Forgotten Prison?

What is the average episode length on Forgotten Prison?

How often are episodes of Forgotten Prison released?

When was the first episode of Forgotten Prison?

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