NOT ON MY WATCH

A reformist prison warden shares his story in this debut memoir by Bob and Joan Hatrak.

The authors began this book as a private chronicle written for their children. As it took shape, however, the Hatraks concluded that Bob’s story “could provide guidance and hope” to those seeking “second chances.” In 1973, while in his early 30s, Bob Hatrak became the superintendent of New Jersey’s infamous Rahway State Prison. This position not only made him the youngest warden in the nation but also put him in charge of a facility known for its violent offenders and whose proximity to New York City made it a mainstay in television and film productions. Two years prior to his appointment, the prison had been the site of a massive Thanksgiving Day riot in which hundreds of inmates held six hostages (including the warden) and demanded reforms including educational opportunities, access to medicine, and better food. These reforms came under Hatrak’s stewardship: “Those inmates were underdogs. Nobody wanted to do anything for or with them,” he writes. “It was my job, I thought, to care.” While offering prisoners increased vocational training and counseling services, the new warden also explored unconventional avenues of reform. Given that the prison was home to some of the world’s greatest boxers, including Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Chuck “the Bayonne Bleeder” Wepner (the inspiration for the classic movie Rocky), and James Scott, Hatrak supported a boxing program that emphasized discipline, self-respect, and hard work and included on-site bouts. During his tenure, the prison was also at the epicenter of an award-winning 1978 documentary (Scared Straight!) in which “lifers” cautioned juvenile offenders by detailing the brutality of life in prison. While some scholars have subsequently questioned the effectiveness of the “scared straight” approach, the book highlights its successes, per the Hatraks, in rehabilitating young offenders. The narrative doesn’t shy away from disturbing stories of violent criminals, but it ultimately affirms Bob Hatrak’s belief in the humanity of the incarcerated and the power of second chances.

An engaging, humane glimpse into a 1970s-era prison.