A Day in the Life
Take a closer look at a day in the life of a CDCR employee, highlighting jobs and the people who do them. This series casts a spotlight on various correctional careers ranging from custody staff to support, including medical, accounting and fire department. Each CDCR institution is like a small city, complete with infrastructure to ensure the safety and security of those who live and work in each one.

For over two decades, Correctional Officer Michael "Mike" Webb has helped CDCR fulfill its mission. As the General Population Entrance...

Since 2006, Sarah Shepherd has charted a unique career path, now serving as Correctional Business Manager at California State Prison,...
Read More About Correctional Business Manager duties goes beyond numbers

CDCR plant operations keep the institutions running. From lights to water, they provide infrastructure for staff and incarcerated residents.

For a quarter century, Special Agent Karen Mory has worked to dismantle preconceptions and stereotypes in her own life as...
Read More About Special Agent Karen Mory shatters preconceptions

Meet Correctional Officer Mike Begley, a 14-year San Quentin veteran and a man of few words, who is the desk...
Read More About 2002: San Quentin officer keeps death row running smoothly

In 2002, the department published a “Day in the Life” story featuring Correctional Officer Mike Begley as he worked on...
Read More About Death row officer reflects on nearly three decades working at San Quentin

Harvey Watson, Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps, also becoming a parole agent. Inside CDCR caught up with the younger...
Read More About Parole Agent Harvey Watson Jr.’s career is in his blood

In 1975, the department profiled Los Angeles Parole Agent Harvey Watson. He'd been an agent for three years and before...
Read More About 1975: LA Parole Agent Harvey Watson is on the job
Meet K-9s Blue and Scout. They work side-by-side with their handlers, Correctional Officer Macaria Orgazan and Sgt. Jeremy Packard as...
Read More About Typical K‑9 Officer team day is never boring
Instructors at CDCR’s Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center are responsible for ensuring CDCR officers get the training they need...
Read More About A Day in the Life of a CDCR Academy sergeant