Katelyn Fabricatore - Pretrial Officer at Rappahannock Regional Jail

According to Purdue University, women made up 26.7% of all law enforcement employees and only 12.6% of officers in 2018. With the raising concerns to incorporate more women in the workplace, it is alarming to see the gap that still exists in the Criminal Justice field.

With this in mind, we at Gen-Achievers wanted to dig a little deeper to learn more about these women who are defying the "traditional" patterns currently presented, and proving why it is essential to incorporate a diverse workforce across this industry.

For this interview, we reached out to Katelyn Fabricatore - Pretrial Officer at Rappahannock Regional Jail. Katelyn is a graduate from East Stroudsburg University, and is currently on pursuit to obtain her Master's Degree in Criminal Justice by Spring 2021. Katelyn shares her experiences as well some suggestions on what others should consider when jumpstarting a career in Criminal Justice.

We'd like to thank Katelyn for her time and willingness in sharing her opinions on this important discussion, and hope all of you enjoy the content on this post!

Give us what a typical day looks like for Katelyn Fabricatore…

My typical day begins around 4:45 a.m., where I wake up and get ready for work. Throughout most of the month, I have to be at work by 7:30 a.m., while two weeks out of the month I have to be at work for 6:00 a.m. After the work day is over, I usually go straight to the gym, and then I head home to meal-prep for the next day. I also incorporate homework into my spare time throughout the week, as I will be receiving my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice in the Spring of 2021. I am usually in bed by 9:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Overall, live a pretty repetitive and nonchalant life!

Your background is quite interesting – going from a correctional officer to now a pretrial officer. Throughout your career thus far, what have been some skills that were necessary to your success?

My greatest personality trait which has been most useful to my career thus far is the ability to understand and communicate well with others. Talking to people and learning about their vulnerabilities is something that has been a passion of mine. Additionally, remaining attentive towards every detail and analyzing these factors in any situation have also been assets that I have developed. For someone working or hoping to start a career in the criminal justice field, traits similar to these are critical since details are pertinent to every aspect. Lastly, my resilience and determination has advanced my career much further than I could have ever imagined it would; I will never let anything or anyone stop me from accomplishing my goals! Generally speaking, I have overcome many life struggles imaginable, and I am still here working hard every day... trying to improve myself!

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Many will claim that a college degree does not uphold true value in today’s workplace. However, you may have a different opinion about that given your pursuit towards your Master’s in Criminal Justice. Could you go into further detail about your experiences in higher education, and how a degree can still be significant to one’s future?

After I graduated with my undergraduate degree from East Stroudsburg University, I took a year-and-a-half off to become a Correctional Officer (i.e. CO) before enrolling into my graduate program. As a CO, it is quite common that you take on an abundance of overtime hours, and being called into work at any given moment makes it difficult to maintain a consistent schedule. However, once I was rewarded with the opportunity to become a Pretrial Officer and work a regular, consistent Monday-thru-Friday schedule, I was able to dedicate more of my efforts towards graduate school.

Although a majority of universities offer Criminal Justice as a major, several careers in the field actually do not require a degree. In fact, most employers consider the years of experience in the field over the type of education obtained. However, there still are those careers that make it an essential qualification. For instance, to be considered for the FBI, DEA, or ATF, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum qualification one must have when applying. Personally, I decided to pursue my Master’s because once (not if!) I get into a federal agency, my pay rate will be determined by both my experience and education.

What is your long-term goal in Criminal Justice? What made you want to get into this field in the first place?

I plans are to become a supervisor of a federal agency such as the FBI, DEA, or TSA. Without saying too much, I am currently in the hiring process for one of these agencies. Fortunately, I was successful in passing the physical fitness exam, and per the hiring dashboard, the next step for me is the “Conditional Offer”.

I chose a career in Criminal Justice because it was the next best option on my list (law school is too financially unstable in my opinion!). I also didn't want to pursue (or pay) for a degree in a field where job demand wasn't present. But most importantly, the job security I found within the field was appealing and presented opportunity for growth. Other than these factors, I see myself as a hands-on type of worker and don't like being confined by small spaces all day. I usually need to be where the action is, and work at my best during high-strung situations.

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With the current pandemic occurring, there have been a lot of changes happening; including how law enforcement professional interact and proceed with their daily duties. What have been some alterations you have seen in your workplace? Do you believe we will ever go back to ‘normal’?

My job has changed so much because of the pandemic! Before the outbreak, I used to be in the courthouse; interacting with others regularly. Since then, we're required to wait for the jail’s record department to email us before taking any actions. The changes and reality of this pandemic have been a real adjustment and eye opener, but I am grateful that my career has not been halted by it all. I know many who've lost their jobs, have little ones' to feed, or are struggling to find shelter. I hope that the restrictions our governor has put down in my state can be modified to support those who are struggling.

Which do you enjoy more… Serving your community or the continuous opportunities for personal, professional growth?

Like most of the people who are employed in the Criminal Justice field, I enjoy serving the community and helping those who need the resources. However, I will always take an opportunity for what its worth and use it towards my advantage. Both of these motives are on different sides of the spectrum, but the enjoyment I get out of each one is similar. Generally speaking, I hope to rise to the top of the career ladder, but serving my community makes me stay humble, kind, and remember that it's the little things that mean the most.

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Statistics show that there is still a large gap between men and women who work in law enforcement. In 2014, the National Center for Women and Policing (NCWP) reported that only 15% of law enforcement professionals were women; that number has not significantly grown since then. Could you share your perspective on how our society can support women who hope to pursue careers in law enforcement and the benefits it can bring by incorporating women in these fields?

The criminal justice field will always NEED to employ more women than what they currently have rostered... I cannot emphasize this enough! This is because it's important to balance the different perspectives women and men bring to the workplace. When working in a jail, women officer’s are required to perform female strip-searches and pat downs. Based off of my own observations (and more than likely research conducted), women officers appear to have an easier time communicating with someone who is out of line when compared to male officers. I also believe the unique skills women have can be taught to their counterparts. A successful workplace should always have a keen sense of diversity instilled. If there is one thing I would want to tell any female who is considering a career in Criminal Justice is to just go for it, and reach as high as you can. It's not always easy working in a male-dominated career, but adversity and dedication make it worthwhile.

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As always, we like to ask this question to see how others in our generations perceive our position in society. For some, they believe there is a shadow over millennials and younger generations in that we are “lazy or “dependent” on others, and we are not striving to become tomorrow’s leaders. What can you say to steer this perception into a positive picture for us all?

I think that there are lazy and dependent people across all ages! Personally, it seems as though older generations have negative feedback towards us, but they should realize that they are also the ones who raised us. The world was a different place when our parents were our age, so an accurate comparison of this would be tough.

I do not like being placed into any classification because I have been working my tail off ever since I was 13 years old. I grew up poor and knew at a young age that I no choice but to put in hard work to become successful.

Are there any other tips or suggestions you want to provide?

I would tell everyone that a work-life balance is necessary in order not to burn out. Hard work pays off, but so does taking time for yourself. Most of us are going to be laboring away for the next 30 years (unless the world ends!), so take a deep breath... it will be all alright!