Corrections_Today_Spring_2025_Vol.87_No.1

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county – across the United States used our model to reshape education service for inmates” (p. 111). Hatrak increasingly immersed himself in security operations and understanding of inmate subculture and was promoted to Assistant Warden. He implemented a successful violence reduction program by facilitating better communication between inmates and the Warden, started contact visiting for inmates, use inmate social groups to engage in more positive behavior, etc. Hatrak was promoted to Warden at Rahway State Prison (now renamed East Jersey State Prison) in 1973. Two immediate agency mandates Hatrak had to addressed: excessive inmate violence and excessive Correctional Officer (CO) over-time (OT). Two years prior, the facility experienced a major riot (several staff members, including the then Warden was seriously injured) and violence continued to plague the prison. Realizing strong-arm tactics was not working in quelling the violence, Hatrak and his team established a multi pronged approach: created a Violence Control Unit (VCU); used a “hands-off” approach (“you don’t touch staff and staff won’t touch you”); changed the Organizational Chart to give the Warden more direct access to inmates; more controlled movement, etc. This plan was successful, as inmate disciplinary infractions reduced by about 50%. Hatrak successfully reduced OT by changing an antiquated scheduling system, and re-examined shift-work constraints and shift-relief factors.

Ultimately, “Not on my Watch” is a story about the resilience of the human spirit of one man, overcoming physical injuries, perseverance in the face of adversity, and his recognition of humanity’s willingness to change.

Building a legacy

inmates, to conduct a concert in the community at the renowned New Jersey Symphony Hall. This is the very first live performance of inmates in the community; and they eventually sold over 300,000 recordings, thereby making pop music history. The development of what later became known as the “Scared Straight!” Program was the second creation of Hatrak’s “Self-Rehab” model. The program, originally called the “Lifers’ Group” had its genesis when an inmate asked Hatrak for permission to have his delinquent son visit the prison as a deterrent to his budding criminal activity. Thus was born the concept of this program. The group, comprising of inmates with life-sentences, was formed to speak initially to college students and, subsequently, to juvenile delinquents. It then became known as the “Juvenile Awareness Program.” The first group of delinquents visited the prison on 09/06/76 to face the lifers, who lambasted them with profanity laced comments about prison life, attempting to dissuade the youngsters from the path to adult criminality. According to Hatrak, the purpose was: “They would see, hear, smell, feel the institution’s oppression, and experience its residents’ intensity. This alert would

Hatrak’s approach to inmate programming was unorthodox — perhaps even revolutionary. His philosophy was based on the belief that inmates should have more autonomy in deciding their own future. He developed the “Self Rehabilitation Enterprise Group” initiative to motivate inmates to develop their own career goals and help themselves prepare for release. He expounds: “It offered the opportunity to help restore dignity, build confidence, and discover newfound pride in their self-acquired abilities and potential” (p. 210). Using the job skills acquisition perspective, Warden Hartrak initiated or promoted over a dozen programs. His Correctional legacy is cemented with three such “Self Rehab Groups”: a singing program, a juvenile deterrent program and a boxing program. The first one was the R & B singing group, “The Escorts.” Noticing the talented singers in the group, he provided them with an appropriate space and resources for them to practice their singing and encouraged them to set their career goals around producing records. Using a revised prison furlough program and security escorts, he permitted this group, who comprised maximum-custody

Spring 2025 | Corrections Today

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