Stroud was incarcerated for the last 54 years of his life, of which 42 were spent in solitary confinement. Because of Stroud's contributions to the field of ornithology, he gained a large following of thousands of bird breeders, and poultry raisers who demanded his release and for many years a 'Committee to Release Robert F. Stroud' campaigned to have Stroud released from prison. Because Stroud had killed a federal officer his punishment in solitary confinement remained intact.