It is the national rogue's gallery of high-profile and hard-to-manage criminals. Kaczynski still is in prison there, as is Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent convicted of spying for Russia. Timothy McVeigh, the convicted Oklahoma City bomber, was there until his execution in 2001. Terry Nichols, his accomplice, is still a Supermax inmate. Among the more recent arrivals are federally protected mob witness and Arizona Ecstasy dealer Sammy "The Bull" Gravano and Richard Reid, the convicted would-be al-Qaeda "shoe bomber."

Restrictions at the prison are the most severe in the country:

Solitary cells measure 7 feet, 1 inch by 12 feet, 1 inch, but at least half the floor space is filled with fixtures. Other cells are 10 feet by 12 feet. About a third of the cells are for solitary confinement. Cell amenities currently include a concrete bed, an 18-inch-high, fixed-in-place concrete stool, a fixed writing shelf, knobless stainless-steel shower and a stainless-steel unit containing a seatless toilet and knobless wash basin.

Supermax prisoners live in virtual isolation and are rarely allowed out of their cells. Cameras and microphones record nearly everything they do. In the case of terrorist inmates, who often are imprisoned under special national security provisions, that can include conversations with lawyers.

Eric Rudolph owes a big debt to one woman, defender Judy Clarke, who obtained the plea deal that spared his life.