Public Service Spotlight: Kitti Van Dahlen
27 years of service (May 1998)
Correctional Technician III
Kitti and Karen, long time County employees who have been friends for more than 27 years.
In May of 1998, Kitti Van Dahlen stepped into the County of San Luis Obispo Jail as a freshly hired Correctional Technician (CT). Twenty-seven years later, she stands as one of the most senior CTs in the department's history.
Kitti is currently assigned at the Court for the Sheriff’s office, managing case files and updating bookings in real time, relieving pressure on the CTs assigned at the County jail and maintaining the smooth flow of operations. “It’s all about details,” Kitti says. “You have to stay focused and on top of every single moving part.”
Beyond clerical duties, CTs are vital to officer safety. Whether working in booking, overseeing visits, or managing inter-agency releases, CTs are an essential link in the chain of jail operations and Kitti is no exception. From coordinating legal visits to ensuring that inmates with conflicts are kept separated while constantly balancing logistics, safety, and human dynamics. CTs are often stationed in control rooms, watching over the dorms and monitoring holding cells. They are the eyes and ears—alert to everything from brewing tension to signs of distress. “You’re not just there to push paperwork—you’re there to watch your partners' backs.”
The job demands thick skin, adaptability, and a sense of humor. Kitti’s watched the role evolve over nearly three decades, especially with the growing focus on mental health and increased surveillance.
It’s a high-stress, high-responsibility role—especially for new CTs. Kitti remembers those early days clearly. “It’s overwhelming at first. But once you find your rhythm, it starts to fall into place. You have to find ways to keep the mood up, even when the environment is tough.”
Kitti’s past is marked by tragedy. At 14, her best friend was murdered by two serial killers who met while incarcerated at CMC. A story she has shared on a podcast, the Partners in True Crime (Season 3, Episode 13: Dragonfly) and was even featured in a documentary on Peacock about the “Toolbox Killers.” When asked if that experience shaped her career choice, she reflects, “I don’t know if that’s why… But I do believe in justice.”
Outside of work, Kitti is a wife, mother, grandmother, and is very creative. She paints custom tumblers with designs that include law enforcement patches. She was once part of a billiards league until a shoulder injury pulled her from the game, but she bounced back from shoulder surgery and even kidney cancer, celebrating two years cancer-free. She is now looking forward to road trips once her husband retires. “No plans. Just the open road.”
Looking back, Kitti is most proud of her longevity, something few can claim in such a demanding role. “You don’t see many stay in this job that long. It wears on you. It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.”
Her advice to new CTs: “Learn everything you can. Be better than who you were yesterday. You’re only competing with yourself.”
And the best advice she’s ever received? “Pick your battles. Be a good person. You can’t be everything to everyone all the time.”
Kitti Van Dahlen is more than her title, she’s a mentor, a survivor, and a steady force in a high-pressure world.
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Kitti Van Dahlen
Briana Dickey
SLOCEA Office Administrator