Tim Fitzpatrick: A Lifelong Career of Service With TDCJ

As we shared in our previous Essential Texans post, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice was formed in 1989 when the Board of Pardons and Paroles was merged with the Texas Adult Probation Commission and the Texas Department of Corrections. TDCJ was first established back in 1848, with the first unit being built in Huntsville, which is still operational today. 

TPEA board member and lifelong TDCJ employee Tim Fitzpatrick has dedicated his career to serving the staff and inmates of TDCJ. Beginning as a Correctional Officer at the age of 18, he has grown throughout his career and now serves as the Director of Classification at the TDCJ headquarters in Huntsville. When asked how he knew that a career with TDCJ was the right fit for him, he said "I knew then that I had a career that was meaningful, impactful and vital to the safety of our state. I felt like a part of family that were all moving together toward the same goal and mission and that kept me coming back every day!"

Tim, tell us about your job and the function of your role within TDCJ.

I oversee the Classification and Records Department, which is comprised of staff at our Headquarters in Huntsville, Texas and staff at every one of our 103 prison facilities throughout the State. The Classification and Records Department schedules, receives, and processes inmates for intake; calculates inmates’ time; classifies and assigns inmates to their custodies and units; places detainers; and facilitates inmate transfers and releases. The department uses a rational, objective classification tool to systematically group inmates with respect to security, medical, treatment, and program needs. The Classification and Records Department is responsible for prison-sentenced inmate records, and provides oversight, training, and technical support for all unit-based classification, count room, and intake functions and staff.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I get to make a difference every day in the lives of our staff, the inmate population and the citizens of this great state. I get to be a light for Christ in all that I do, in how I treat each person I interact with, and each person that my decisions impact.

What is a common misconception about your work and your agency that you would like to address?

A common misconception is that only negative things happen within the prison system. It is a result of the media coverage and the nature of our business. But a good analogy is that we are like an airport – everyday, all over the State, airports are running safely and effectively to take passengers to their destinations, and the only time they make the news is when something goes wrong. Prison is similar – everyday, there are incredible strides being made to protect the citizens of Texas, rehabilitate and successfully reintegrate individuals back into society, and assist victims of crime – but unfortunately, that does not get covered enough, leading to an overall misconception of our industry.

What are you the proudest of regarding your work or your agency?

I am most proud of the team that I get to be a part of everyday, leading the way for Corrections on a national and international level. TDCJ is consistently looked to as the leader in the Corrections field, and we are honored to be able to help and support other states and nations in their pursuit of correctional excellence.

Any last thoughts you'd like to share?

I thank God every day that he brought me to a career with TDCJ when He did. It has been an exciting and rewarding journey and I have met so many incredible people along the way! Also, my tenure as a member, Director, and Past President of TPEA has been immensely fulfilling. It afforded me the opportunity to witness firsthand the unwavering commitment and effort dedicated to advocating for state employees and underscored the critical importance of ensuring our voices are heard by elected officials.

We're thankful too, Tim! We're thankful for state employees like you that tirelessly serve Texas, and thankful that you have done so much for TPEA. We're proud to share your story, and we thank you for being an Essential Texan.