Saidah Holt, Director, Client Services
Saidah.Holt@equalaccess.solutions
Bernard Moore, Ph.D., Mitigation Strategist & Policy Advocate
Dr.Bernard.moore@equalaccess.solutions
After a decade as a policymaker for members of Congress, Dr. Moore shifted his attention to providing criminal justice solutions to defense attorneys, defendants, inmates and court systems throughout the country. In addition Dr. Moore worked on federal sentencing and offender reentry initiatives to help develop national policy on reducing recidivism while on Capitol Hill. His current role as a policy advocate influencing legislative bodies with expert analysis on criminal justice initiatives to reduce disparities, developing cutting-edge research and policy recommendations on how to reduce recidivism through evidence-based practices.
Twenty years of experience in a broad range of positions and responsibilities within the criminal justice and legislative affairs with developed perspective is utilized when reviewing and analyzing cases under consideration by either a sentencing judges and probation or paroling authorities.
As a criminal justice and mitigation strategist assisted defense counsel and defendants, prisoners, or probationers/parolees on variety of matters including plea negotiation, sentencing, parole, and other post-conviction matters. Dr. Moore has prepared comprehensive social studies/profiles, bail reports, and parole reports, in cases before the state and federal courts, or paroling authorities including the U.S. parole Commission across the country.
Dr. Moore has worked directly with the full range of types of individuals and offenses handled by the justice system. This variety of experience has underscored his understanding of and belief in the importance of the traditional concerns of justice agencies and the public (just punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, respect for the law, public safety).
While working on Capitol, Dr. Moore observed that, despite the total immersion in the workings of the criminal justice system, attorneys often cannot expend the time needed to become or remain fully knowledgeable about such areas as: sentencing guidelines, downward departures in a non-guideline sentence, parole policies and procedures, or alternatives to incarceration.
Dr. Moore opinions and recommendations to judges or the Parole Commission regarding dispositions of cases facing sentencing or parole consideration are based on his professional experience and opinions of the needs of the defendant/prisoner as well as recognition of the needs of justice and society. It is for this reason that Dr. Moore has chosen to direct his experience and efforts toward those important areas that are critical factors, to the quality and assistance that is provided, and are the ultimate disposition of all cases.
Dr. Moore’s signature accomplishment was spearheaded by the passage of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R.1593). It was designed to help state and local governments as well as the federal prison system address the needs of ex-offenders reentering their communities. It was inspired partly by Dr. Moore’s own difficult reentry experience. He only helped to draft the legislation, but he also worked behind the scenes with House members to garner bi-partisan support of 92 co-sponsors and 247 votes in the U.S. House of Representatives for its passage under the directions of Congressman Danny K. Davis. For the companion bill in the U.S. Senate, Dr. Moore worked together with than Senator Joseph Biden, Jr., Senator Richard Durbin and the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy for the passage of the Second Chance Act in the U.S. Senate. One of Dr. Moore proudest was when President signed the Act into law on April 9, 2008.
Naomi Nightingale, Ph.D., Mitigation Strategist
Naomi.Nightingale@equalaccess.solutions
A seasoned criminal justice consultant and social justice advocate having worked since the 1960s on behalf of socio-economically deficient communities and persons disadvantaged on all levels essential for constructive livability, e.g., education, housing, health care, employment and reasonable access to social service resource providers.
Her intimate connections over the years to the grass root communities and individuals at risk, both adolescents and adults, prompted her doctorate study and research in the areas of criminality and, particularly, desistance from crime. Her practitioner experience and insight brought a different perspective to the scholarly research that largely focused on causality from the perspective of criminologist, social workers, correctional administrators or political pundits. In her close knit community Dr. Nightingale knew people who had committed crimes, served prison sentences, some more than once, and their personal stories cast deeper shadows and meaning to the cause and effect of their criminal behavior than what was written in the clinical reports and research studies found in various journals.
Dr. Nightingale’s seven years of research provided a clearer picture and opportunity for analysis of the State of California Department of Corrections, the prison system, the judicial system, the sentencing laws, the probation and parole supervision policies and the impact of legislation and penal laws.
Most significant in her work has been the in-depth experiential involvement that manifested from the interaction with and the personal voices of the convicted criminals who speak candidly and colorfully about reasons and ways in which they violated law. These experiences provided Dr. Nightingale with an insider view to the phenomenal world of criminal behavior.
With her wealth of practical experience, education and ability to personally connect with and gain the trust of both incarcerated and ex-offenders, law enforcement, agencies and elected officials working on behalf of crime prevention, rehabilitation and alternate remedies to incarceration, Dr. Nightingale is uniquely positioned to assist with research, analyses and recommendations regarding disposition of sentencing alternatives.
Dr. Nightingale is a skilled negotiator and has served as hearing officer for grievance hearings, as a panelist on arbitration panels, and worked closely with agency attorneys to resolve administrative and legal challenges.
She is a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, a five person panel that reviews appeals regarding suspensions, discharges, and other personnel matters filed by County employees.
She has a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts from Antioch University, a M.A. in Public Administration from California State University at Long Beach and a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, Yellow Springs, OH.
Nesa Chappelle, Ph.D., Mitigation Strategist
Nesa.Chappelle@equalaccess.solutions
Nenaji Jackson, Ph.D., Mitigation Strategist
Nenaji.Jackson@equalaccess.solutions
Jennifer Steele, MA, Mitigation Strategist
Jennifer.Steele@equalaccess.solutions
Gregory Johnson, Case Manger Intern