Meet the Pros
You Have Questions About Criminal Justice, We Have Professional Advice
At All Criminal Justice Schools, we care about your educational journey. We want you to have the information you’re looking for—and information you didn’t even know you needed—as you explore the many paths you can take to achieve your career goals. That’s why we consult professors, association leaders, and our team of experienced editors and writers when we’re creating our library of resources, all crafted with you in mind. We’re here help simplify the complicated process of planning to go back to school and to help point you in the right direction.
Jump to: Criminal Justice Professionals | Authors
Criminal Justice Professionals
Jake O’Neil
FAA Air Traffic Controller; Founder, Magical memories Worldwide
Jake O’Neil is the founder of Magical Memories Worldwide, a travel agency specializing in Disney vacations. He brings a unique blend of industry expertise and personal passion to the world of travel planning. His career began in the aviation industry, first working as an airline baggage handler then as an air traffic controller for almost 15 years, gaining a comprehensive unique knowledge base of the travel industry from the inside. Today, he combines his extensive experience and love for Disney into creating unforgettable vacation experiences for his clients.
Pat Kinsel, CEO
Notarize
Pat is the Founder and CEO of Notarize, the pioneer in online notarization. Pat was previously a partner at Polaris Partners. Before joining Polaris and founding Notarize, Pat was a co-founder & CEO of Spindle until it was acquired by Twitter in June 2013. Prior to Spindle, Pat was at Microsoft incubating new concepts and bringing them to market. Pat serves on the board of Lob and was the lead investor in Drizly. Based in Boston, Pat serves as a mentor at the Harvard Innovation Lab.
Major Patricia Brown
Director, Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at Central Piedmont Community College
Patricia Brown served 25 years in the United States Army and ended her tour of duty at the rank of Major in 2007. She also served as a Field Training Officer and Detention Sergeant with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office. In 2004, she became employed with Central Piedmont Community College where she served as the Commandant for the Public Safety Academy for high school students and later served as a Criminal Justice Instructor and Program Chair for the Criminal Justice Technology Associate Degree Program. Since 2009, she has served as a Senior Program Developer for Law Enforcement Training and North Carolina State School Director for BLET, Telecommunicator, General Instructor Training and Radar Certification. She is also an honorary member of the International Association Chiefs of Police and a member of the North Carolina Law Enforcement Women’s Association.
Darren Popkin, Executive Director
Maryland Chiefs of Police Association
Darren M. Popkin is the Executive Director for the Maryland Chiefs and Maryland Sheriffs’ Associations. Prior to leading the MSA/MCPA, Darren Popkin was elected as Montgomery County’s 61st Sheriff on November 2, 2010; and was re-elected on November 4, 2014, and November 6, 2018. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, established in 1777, has 160 sworn law enforcement officers and 36 civilians providing a wide range of judicial, law enforcement and domestic violence intervention services for over one million Montgomery County residents.
Executive Director Popkin, while Sheriff, was a member of the strategic planning committee responsible for designing and implementing the interagency Montgomery County Family Justice Center (MCFJC) which opened in May 2009 and has since aided thousands of clients.
As co-chair of the joint legislative committee of the Maryland Chief of Police and Maryland Sheriffs’ Associations, Executive Director Popkin has direct involvement with the Maryland General Assembly in presenting the views of law enforcement on all major public safety legislation.
Executive Director Popkin received his BA degree in law enforcement from the University of Maryland, College Park and has extensive involvement in law enforcement policy making and professional organizations.
Jason Fries, CEO
3D Forensic, Inc.
Jason is a forensic expert witness with over 25 years of experience and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of 3D Forensic, Inc. His forensic specialties include forensic animation, nighttime visibility, shooting reconstruction (primarily officer-involved shooting reconstruction), video analysis, field-of-view analysis, medical animation and laser scanning. He has worked on high-profile shooting and vehicular accident cases across the nation. He has also revolutionized the standard for modern OIS and nighttime visibility analysis through his work. Over the last 20 years Jason has created some of the most advanced tools in forensic analysis such as laser-based photogrammetry, laser accurate line-of-sight and the most advanced video analysis in the courtroom today. Jason has written countless articles and lectured to diverse groups including members of the FBI and Supreme Court justices.
Paul Petty
In-Service Manager of Training, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
Paul Petty serves as the In-Service Manager of Training for the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board. Paul is a 28-year veteran of the law enforcement profession which began after his 4 ½ year service in the United States Navy. He served as a Special Agent for the West Central Illinois Drug Task Force and Deputy Sheriff for three years prior to being elected Sheriff in 1998. Paul served as Pike County Sheriff & Coroner for twenty years before retiring in 2018. While Sheriff, Paul also served as Ambulance Director and was a member of several boards in the law enforcement community during his professional career. Paul continued his education during his career and received his master’s in legal studies from the University of Illinois – Springfield. Following his retirement, Paul served as a certified School Resource Officer & A.L.I.C.E. instructor for Pikeland Unit Ten in Pittsfield and taught Intro to Policing, Ethics, and The Militarization of Police at Illinois College in Jacksonville. Paul also served as a Physical Education Teacher and Head Football Coach for three years. Paul returned to the law enforcement arena in April of 2021 as a Special Agent with the Illinois Gaming Board before becoming ILETSB’s In-Service Manager of Training in December of 2021.
Trooper Tyree Cooper
New Jersey State Police
Trooper II Tyree Cooper has been employed by the New Jersey State Police for over nine years. He has been in the Recruiting & Outreach Bureau for the past two years. Trooper Cooper has a master’s degree in criminal justice specializing in community policing.
Julia Kochanowski, BS in Biology Forensic Science with a minor in Criminal Justice
Graduate student, University of North Dakota
Julia Kochanowski is currently a graduate student at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She graduated in the spring of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Forensic Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. In the fall of 2019, she started working as a forensic autopsy technician for UND Forensic Pathology and started doing research in the Pathology lab. Once she finishes her graduate program she will be applying for MD/PhD programs. She aims to be a forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, while getting her PhD in neuroscience. Her main research area of interest is in Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Derek Henry
Paralegal, Houston, Texas
Derek Henry is a practicing paralegal based in Houston, Texas. Derek earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in pre-law and paralegal studies at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Currently, Derek is pursuing law school while practicing paralegal work.
Peter Smart
Legal Assistant, John K. Zaid & Associates
Peter Smart is currently a legal assistant for the John K. Zaid & Associates law firm based in Houston, Texas. Peter is also a Juris Doctorate Candidate at the University of Houston Law Center.
Cindy Crosby
Private investigator
Cindy Crosby is an investigator and representative of Crosby Investigations based in Texas. As a full service in Dallas, TX private investigation firm Crosby Investigations diligently serves individuals, businesses and legal firms worldwide. The owner and chief investigator of Crosby Investigations, Jack Crosby, is a former FBI agent with vast experience and worldwide connections.
Ty Larkin
Private investigator and founder of APEX Surveillance and Investigations
Ty “the Spy” Larkin is an experienced licensed private investigator who formed APEX Surveillance and Investigations, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, following her service in the U.S. Military. APEX Surveillance and Investigations are members in good standing of the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators (FALI), the Florida Association of Private Investigators (FAPI), United States Association of Professional Investigators (USAPI) and the National Association of Investigative Specialists (NAIS). Ty is a dedicated investigator who, with the help of her staff, will always ensure that they exceed their client’s expectations.
Mark Ososke
Oregon-based private investigator and Regional Coordinator for the Oregon Association of Licensed Investigators
Mark Ososke is a licensed investigator and owner/partner of PI Services LLC based in Beaverton, OR. Mark has been conducting private investigations and process serving in Oregon since 1988. Ten years later, in 1998, the State of Oregon began licensing and regulating Private Investigators and his team then started PI Services. Each member of Mark’s staff has a minimum of 10 years’ experience. On a personal note, Mark was raised in Portland Oregon. Mark enjoys spending time with his family and friends as well as mountain biking, skiing, camping, playing basketball, golfing, watching Trail Blazer & Seahawk games and volunteering with NW Trail Alliance.
John Morse
CMECI, CA, Private Investigator
John Morse is the owner of Morse Investigations Services based in Henrico County, Virginia. Mr. Morse is also the former executive director of the Private Investigators Association of Virginia. Additionally, Mr. Morse is a certified missing & exploited child investigator for the state, with extensive experience in many different specialties within the independent investigation field. Morse Investigations Services has proudly been voted Virginia’s Best Investigator 6 years in a row (as of 2021) with a variety of offered services from domestic investigation services to basic surveillance services.
Gabriel V. Evelyn, Paralegal at Prather Ebner Wilson LLP in Chicago, IL
Founding member, Director-at-Large and Pro Bono Coordinator for the Chicago Paralegal Association
Website | Prather Ebner Wilson LLP
Gabriel V. Evelyn is a Paralegal, Founding Member, Director-At-Large, and the Pro Bono Coordinator of the Chicago Paralegal Association (CPA). Gabriel often tells everyone the CPA’s unofficial motto: “No hateration: only community, celebration, & elevation!” After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2012, he transitioned from freelance reporting, hospitality, and the pharmacy fields into law as a floating legal assistant in 2018. He worked in various legal practice areas while completing his post-education in Paralegal Studies from an ABA-approved paralegal program at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. After obtaining his Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies in December 2019, he co-founded the CPA in April 2020. In August 2020, he landed his first Paralegal position at his current law firm, Prather Ebner Wilson LLP: a boutique law firm that focuses on probate litigation, estate planning, estate administration, business planning, and pre-/post-marital agreements. Outside of the legal field, Gabriel is the Founder of Umami Memories: Savoring, Story, Song, & Soul, a social media presence and registered ASCAP publisher, where he explores the connections between food, music, songwriting, performing, family, and the written word.
Gabriel loves connecting with any and all who are interested in Paralegals, the Chicagoland legal community, and music/performance. He encourages everyone to discover more about his law firm, Prather Ebner Wilson LLP; his organization, the Chicago Paralegal Association; and his social media presence, Umami Memories.
Samantha Burns, Paralegal
President of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association
Samantha Burns is a Deaf paralegal who wears a cochlear implant to navigate the legal world between the Deaf and Hearing people. She is a Paralegal Manager at a Plaintiff’s Personal Injury law firm, Marjiya Law PC. Samantha obtained her A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies in 2019 from Mt. San Antonio College and has been furthering her education to obtain a B.S. degree in Legal Studies. She is also the President of Los Angeles Paralegal Association of 2021. She is a fierce advocate for Deaf legal professionals and for new paralegals who are just entering the field.
Amber Haney, Senior Paralegal, The Haney Group
Past President and Pro Bono Chair and Mentor/Internship Co-Chair of the Capital Area Paralegal Association; Board member of the Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
Amber Haney has been the Senior Paralegal at The Haney Law Firm for 20 years. She works alongside her sister, Caitlin Haney Johnston, the managing attorney for the firm. The firm specializes in estate planning, probate, and probate litigation.
Amber obtained an Associate of Applied Arts and Science in Paralegal Studies from Austin Community College and graduated from Texas State University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences.
Amber is the Immediate Past President of the Capital Area Paralegal Association, where she also serves as Pro Bono Chair and Mentor/Internship Co-Chair. She recruits and organizes paralegal volunteers for pro bono legal clinics throughout the Central Texas area. She connects new paralegals with mentors and helps paralegal students find internships.
In 2021 Amber won the Merianne Gaston Award for Excellence in Legal Support, an award given annually by the Texas Bar College. In 2021 CAPA awarded her the Paralegal of the Year Award and the Susan Norris Haney Community Service Award. and In 2019, Amber was awarded the Austin Young Lawyer’s Association Liberty Bell Award, The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas Exceptional Pro Bono Award, the Pro Bono Support Staff Award from the State Bar of Texas, and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Capital Area Paralegal Association.
Henry Mota
Lead Investigator and Founder of Aces Private Investigations
ACES is a professional private investigation company in Houston that provides a full range of security and investigation for Houston and the surrounding areas. ACES private investigations of Houston also offers covert or undercover surveillance that will help uncover any suspicious activities that you may have noticed or suspected, whether it be personal or business related.
Lisa Morano, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology & Microbiology,
Director of Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability
Dr. Morano is currently the Director for the Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability (CUAS) that has a mission to create and support sustainable neighborhoods throughout Houston by engaging UHD and the external community in teaching, research and professional development and promoting best practices in business, technology, science and engagement. The CUAS collaborates with the Texas AgriLife Extension, the Gulf Coast Texas Master Naturalists, local companies and urban farms and non-profits. The CUAS also oversees capstone projects in sustainability, hands-on experiential projects in science and technology, and the EcoReps program.
Dr. Morano’s research focuses on aspects of environmental microbiology including pathogens of grapevines and the friendly bacteria found inside plants called endophytes. She is also passionate about sustainable agriculture and urban agricultural systems and supports student projects in renewable energy, water conservation and mushroom production.
Breann Martin, Psy.D.
Licensed psychologist and certified forensic evaluator
Breann N. Martin, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist and certified forensic evaluator in Oregon. Dr. Martin has experience working in a variety of clinical and forensic settings providing psychological and forensic evaluation services. She has worked in crisis intervention, outpatient, and institutional settings and with clients who have a history of severe and persistent mental disorder and/or criminal offenses. Since 2015, Dr. Martin has been employed at Oregon State Hospital (OSH) as a clinical psychologist where she serves on OSH’s Risk Review (a privileging body), completes various formal risk assessments, and supervises psychology trainees and interns. In this role, she is also an active member of several committees, including the Risk Assessment Committee, Psychology Peer Review Committee, and Medical and Allied Health Professional Staff (MAHPS) Committee. Dr. Martin founded Western Clinical & Forensic Services in 2017 where she completes psychological and forensic evaluations, including those related to areas of competency (e.g., adjudicative, testimonial capacity, Miranda waiver), criminal responsibility, sentencing, risk assessment (i.e., violence, psychosexual, stalking, fire setting), eyewitness testimony, false confessions, and psychological autopsy.
Cody W. Telep
Associate Professor and Associate Director, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
Cody Telep is an Associate Professor and Associate Director in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. He previously worked as a research associate at the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy at George Mason University. His research focuses on synthesizing research to assess what works in policing; partnering with agencies to examine the impact of police practices on crime, disorder and citizen perceptions of legitimacy; and examining and increasing receptivity to research and evidence-based practice in policing.
Ghani Iqbal
Ghani Iqbal is a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, which is the main investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. It is the second largest investigative agency in the country, second only to the FBI. Previously, he was a federal probation officer. He is founder of the website specialagents.org
Authors
Paige Cerulli
Contributing Writer
Paige Cerulli graduated from Westfield State University in Massachusetts with degrees in English and music performance. She works as a freelance copywriter and content writer covering education, health and wellness, and finance topics. Her work has appeared in outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, American Veterinarian, and more. In her spare time, Cerulli works on several novels, plays the flute and rides horses.
Mariah Beckman
Contributing Writer
Mariah Beckman is a Seattle-based writer and editor. She specializes in education and lifestyle content, loves a good laugh and aims, above all, to tell stories that might otherwise go untold.
Joe Edwards
Staff Writer
Joe graduated from the University of Houston–Downtown with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He also attended the University of Baltimore Law School on a partial scholarship before choosing to pursue writing full time.
He has worked as a contributing sports writer for Fansided (NBA websites: AirAlamo.com & SpaceCityScoop.com for the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets), as a contributing writer for My Table Magazine, a Public Relations assistant at Fitzgeralds and White Oak Music Hall in Houston, TX, and as a reporter for The Facts newspaper covering all of the Brazoria Counties in Texas.
He also worked as a web content writer for 8020 Media/TuningPro.Co, which specialized in technical articles on various car makes, models, upgrades, and repairs.
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Kendall Upton
Kendall Upton is a Seattle-based staff writer for All Star Directories. She has written for several publications including Seattle magazine on various topics including arts, news, science, and food. She also worked as the office manager and sponsored content writer for the media company that published Seattle, and later worked at a non-profit early learning center. In her free time she enjoys writing poetry and fiction.
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Hailey Hudson
Hailey Hudson is a full-time freelance writer and content marketer based in Atlanta, Georgia. She focuses on the healthcare, digital marketing, education, and pet industries; clients include Healthline, BEE by MailUp, Barnes & Noble Education, Chewy, and many more. In her spare time, Hailey writes YA novels, sings musical theatre, and does advocacy and ministry work in the chronic illness and disability field.
Karen S. Hanson
Karen S. Hanson writes about education, culture, technology, real estate, home improvement, and health. As a journalist, she has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor, blogger, and content writer. She is the author of a book about the Chicago blues. A former college professor, she has a PhD in humanities and teaches online part-time. She is passionate about understanding how people live, work, play, connect with one another, and form communities. A Chicago area native, Hanson spends winters in Florida.
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MJ Grenzow
Mary Jane Grenzow is a freelance writer and editor based in her home state of Wisconsin. After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison, she worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 25 years and taught college-level writing and communications courses. As a freelance writer and editor, she has covered a wide variety of topics, including education, finance, and home and lifestyles. She and her husband have three daughters, two cats, and one dog. She enjoys spending free time with her family, reading, summer afternoons on a lake, and watching documentaries.