Who is Warden Jackie?
Jackie Crawford was a visionary and a hero who used Human-Centered Leadership to transform the prison system in the 1960s.
Jackie Crawford
Warden Jackie is based on Jackie Crawford - a transformative leader in the corrections field. She got her start as a prison guard on night duty. On her first day she was horrified at the heinous institutional disregard and abuse of those incarcerated. She constantly challenged authority and risked her career (as well as her life) to turn the tide on prison management. Brilliantly navigating through unending layers of politics, and using a different approach called Human-Centered Leadership, she became one the youngest wardens in the nation and won the heart of the inmates, the community, and politicians alike. Her efforts helped reduce recidivism and gave the incarcerated population a second chance, while making communities safer. She went on to lead a national effort to improve the standards for all American prisons that continue to be in place today.
Jackie recently splashed into the spotlight after being featured in Showtime's true crime docuseries The 12th Victim. Jackie was lauded as one of the most powerful voices in the series. Her testimony rocked the foundation of a "tough on crime" narrative, and replaced it with a more nuanced understanding of the role of mental health (and the lack thereof) in our justice system. Her piece in the film is so compelling that calls to identify her current whereabouts began, including this article (left). This movie was in part made to answer that call and to share how her human-centered leadership practices remain relevant - especially today.
Overview of Jackie Crawford's Long-Spanning Career in the Corrections Community
