Patricia Rodriguez has seen plenty of changes during her four decades of state service, including 33 years with CDCR. We caught up with her to talk about her various jobs with the state.
Rodriguez began her state career in 1984 as a teaching assistant for the developmentally disabled at Camarillo State Hospital.
“I ended up moving to Bakersfield to be closer to family. Then, in 1989, I took a job with the California Highway Patrol and worked there until I came to Wasco State Prison-Reception Center in 1992,” she said.
The decision to join the department was more about seizing the opportunity to do something different.
“I think I just needed a change and so when the opportunity came up, I decided to go,” she said. “I ended up in the mailroom and have been here ever since.”
The mailroom office assistant said the biggest change she’s seen is related to technology.
“We didn’t have computers back then in the mailroom. I remember we would have to go all the way up front just to look up housing locations,” Rodriguez said. “Also, the staffing. We used to have a custody sergeant and officers assigned to the mailroom.”
Why has she stayed at Wasco State Prison-Reception Center for so long?
“I like the environment. I like coming to work and I enjoy the people.”
For hobbies, she enjoys visiting the casino, spending time with family, or camping with friends.
For those still relatively new in their careers, she offers some simple advice.
“I would say time flies. Don’t worry about getting to retirement because it comes fast. Enjoy your time,” she said.
For those considering working in a correctional environment, she said it’s important to be flexible.
“When you work at a prison, you deal with many different personalities,” she said. “And so, you have to adjust and learn to get along to get the job done.”
Submitted by Lt. S. Sanchez
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