Corrections_Today_Spring_2025_Vol.87_No.1

COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

T he American Correctional Association is pleased to offer book reviews. For more information or to become a book reviewer, contact Kirk Raymond at (703) 224-0193 or kraymond@aca.org. Bookshelf

New Jersey Department of Correc tions, Bob Hatrak. Co-written with his wife, Joan Hatrak, “Not on my Watch” is Hatrak’s memoir of these developments at both Trenton and Rahway State Prisons during the 1970s era. In describing the origins of these programs, the book weaves through the intricacies of the inmate subculture, the politics of prison unions, public relations, etc., that still has relevance in contemporary Corrections. In addition to being a valued specific case study in Penol ogy, the book is also of interest to aficionados of professional boxing given the televised pro light-heavy weigh matches that occurred at Rahway and eminent boxing names associated with the program. “Not on my Watch” is a true story waiting to be told! Finding his calling The first five chapters of the book are primarily devoted to Hatrak’s early years as a child of Czechoslovakian immigrants, growing-up in depression-era Northern Pennsylvania; and the family later relocating to Trenton, New Jersey. Young Bob excelled in sports, earning baseball scholarships to both high school

and college. Tragically, his pitching arm was caught in a grinding cotton machine, destroying his college and professional baseball aspirations. This setback, as devastating as it was, would precipitate the re invention of Hatrak. With the help and encouragement of mentors, he changed his major from Accounting to Education, pursued an education and coaching career at both high school and college levels, and married Joan. His educational background transitioned him to an illustrious career in Corrections: in 1967, he was hired as the Education Director of the maximum-security Trenton State Prison (now renamed New Jersey State Prison). As Education Director at Trenton, he immediately addressed the existing educational deficiencies, improving both basic and GED education scores. His crowning achievement at this prison was his collaboration with Mercer County Community College to provide college courses for inmates – the very first such collaboration for a maximum security prison. In 1971, 5 inmates graduated with A.A. degrees. Hatrak writes: “Eventually, over a hundred prison education departments – federal, state, and

Not On My Watch By Bob Hatrak and Joan Hatrak, Villa Magna Publishing, 2022, 284 pp.

REVIEWED BY Roger Baburam, MPA, Retired

Corrections Program Director at Minnesota Department of Corrections

I magine, if you will, a resume that includes the creation of the first college program in a maximum-security prison, the first nationally televised boxing match in prison, and the develop ment of the internationally known “Scared Straight!” juvenile deter rent program. These developments are the actual accomplishments of the reform-minded Warden of

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