The HATS program evolved because the Administrative Chaplain, for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department in Phoenix, Arizona, asked me to set up a classroom approach, in 1999, to deal with inmate anger from a spiritual and practical vantage point. The sheriff's department goal is to reduce the number of inmates returning to jail. The Sheriff is highly committed to establishing rehabilitative efforts which truly can help inmates succeed after they leave jail. In addition, the Commander of the Inmate Programs Division has stated that “the ‘Healing Anger Through Spirituality’ class could easily be offered all day, every day.”

To fulfill this request, we focused on teaching the inmates more about the spiritual nature of God, man's direct relationship to Him, and how to overcome sin through prayer more effectively. This class can be more appropriately called, "HATS: Healing Anger (& other things) Through Spirituality."

This approach has resulted in many expressions of gratitude and healing experiences from the inmates. The appreciation is an acknowledgment of a better understanding that each is a child of God from a spiritual standpoint. The inmates are beginning to find that they can get rid of the "old man" and put on the "new man" in a very practical way. These notes express the inmate's marked desire for more spiritual progress, a growing appreciation to maintain good thoughts, a greater eagerness to overcome the past, and a better understanding of the practical results of prayer.

We continue to see a wonderful response from the inmates who attend the classes on a variety of issues which they feel are addressed through the HATS classes. Their gratitude for the classes expressed at their individual graduation is touching and warms the heart.

Inmates attending the HATS program have a wonderful opportunity to thank God more consistently for his goodness, to do His will more faithfully, and to repeatedly acknowledge that one can do nothing of his own self.

Currently, we have distributed numerous Instructor Manuals to those in many states expressing an interest in this program. We are striving to make the HATS project more effective on a practical basis. If you are interested in this program click here to contact the HATS Project Director.

Compassion Needed »