- Meet the Team -
— Allie Menegakis, Founder, Executive Director
Allie is a criminal defense attorney and criminal justice reform advocate in Charleston, South Carolina. She practices criminal defense law at Flores Menegakis LLC and represents clients charged with everything from simple drug possession to first-degree murder. Allie began her career as a public defender in both South Florida and Charleston, South Carolina. She is an experienced trial attorney and zealous advocate for her clients with an emphasis on holistic, client-centered representation. After years of witnessing the injustices that her clients faced in the Florida criminal justice system, she felt a need to do more to fight for significant change on a broader level. When she moved to South Carolina, she quickly realized that criminal defendants and inmates in South Carolina face even greater procedural obstacles and disadvantages. She founded SC4CJR with the goal of educating the public on criminal justice issues and the need for change. She believes it is time to unveil the depths of injustice that plague our criminal justice system, because awareness is the first step to change.
Contact: Allie@sc4cjr.org
“Equal justice starts with fairness, awareness, and a willingness to fight for change.”
— Alesia Flores, State Director
Alesia Rico Flores is an attorney at the law firm of Flores Menegakis LLC and State Director of SC4CJR. Her work focuses on transforming the criminal justice system in South Carolina through policy reform, education, and legal representation. Alesia is a former Administrative Judge for the City of Charleston Municipal Court in Charleston, South Carolina. She also has prior legal experience as a Prosecutor, Criminal Defense Attorney, and Immigration Attorney. She is passionate about advancing criminal justice reform initiatives and addressing racial and economic disparities in our criminal legal system. Alesia rarely passes up an opportunity to raise awareness about these issues, through community outreach and education. Alesia earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Juris Doctor Degree from The University of Tulsa College of Law. Alesia is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and Florida.
Contact: Alesia@sc4cjr.org
“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” — Nelson Mandela
“The fusion of effective academic research, dedicated practitioners, and steadfast advocates will lead to an efficient criminal justice system that righteously serves all South Carolinians.”
— Philip T. Berry, Director of Research, Applied Criminologist
Philip Berry, a native of Milford, Delaware, is a Criminologist and current doctoral candidate at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania and then pursued a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Philip’s research ventures revolve around quantitative methodology, organizational legitimacy, police practices, use of force policy, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), and the analysis of nationwide crime statistics. Philip has been fortunate enough to work with a variety of renowned advisors throughout his academic tenure that have stressed upon him how vigilant academic research can truly revolutionize criminal justice practices and policy. Philip hopes to direct a research initiative on behalf of SC4CJR that disseminates valuable information to outlets with the power to affect change in the criminal justice system of the Palmetto state.
Contact: PTBerry@sc4cjr.org
— Keith Smalls, Executive Board Member
Keith Smalls is a native of North Charleston’s Accabee community. He is the founder and director of My Community’s Keeper Mentor Group, whose mission is to provide encouragement and guidance to individuals transitioning from prison to the community. He also is a frequent speaker on community issues including gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform. Mr. Smalls’ message comes from a place of deeply knowing of which he speaks. After getting arrested at the age of 21, Keith spent 19 of the next 21 years of his life in the South Carolina department of corrections. While serving time, Keith worked as a teacher’s assistant and mentored youthful offenders. One year after release, Mr. Smalls’ only son was a casualty of gun violence in North Charleston’s Dorchester-Waylyn neighborhood at the age of 17. Mr. Smalls is passionate about improving the community around him in any way he can. In addition to one son, Keith Smalls is the father to three daughters.
“My message comes from a place of experience.”
— Tola Familoni, Executive Board Member
Tola is an attorney, licensed in both Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. He currently works as an attorney at Motley Rice LLC where he litigates public health issues. Tola worked as Public Defender in Charleston County where he represented the indigent accused. Originally from East Greenwich, Rhode Island and the son of Nigerian immigrants, Tola has been passionate about criminal justice reform long before he became an attorney. During his time at the University of Massachusetts, Tola interned with the Office for Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education, where he focused on the impact of the school-to-prison pipeline in the Greater Boston Area. His passion for civil and human rights continued throughout his time at Elon University School of Law, where he interned with an immigration non-profit and the Legal Aid of North Carolina.
“The tree of criminal justice is overgrown, reaching its mangled branches throughout our schools, mental health facilities, and health care system.”
“Thinking through what counts as justice is our obligation as thinkers and citizens. And when we have found justice, it will seem good from all perspectives.”
— Dr. Jennifer Baker, SC4CJR Executive Board Member, Philosopher, Professor, and Writer
Jennifer Baker is a well-reviewed philosopher and professor of Philosophy at the College of Charleston. She received her BA from Brown University and her PhD from the University of Arizona working under Julia Annas. She has taught at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill. She currently teaches courses in American Philosophy, Business Ethics, Bioethics, Ethical Theory and Political Theory. She is currently supervising student research on the ethics of public defense. She has presented her research on criminal justice in Atlanta, Boulder, Chicago, Las Vegas and New Orleans.
Dr. Baker has over two dozen publications in her field. Her most-cited publications include “Economics and Virtue: Economic Good as the Object of Moral Evaluation” in the Oxford Handbook on Ethics and Economics, The “Virtue Ethics” entry in the Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society, and “Virtue and Behavior” Review of Social Economy. Her co-edited book with Mark White, "Economics and the Virtues" received a "highly recommended" status from CHOICE.
She has served on various committees at the College of Charleston, including IACUC and has spent nearly 15 years on the Ethics Committee at MUSC. Dr. Baker also has organized colloquia and conferences in bioethics and philosophy generally. She recently stepped down from being co-President of The Association of the Philosophic Study of Society. And she has just completed her term as a community representative for the CJCC in Charleston. This year she received a Mellon Philosophy as a Way of Life grant in order to work with students engaging communities in philosophical dialogue. She also blogs for Psychology Today.
— Joe Jacobs, SC4CJR Advisory Board Member, Former Army Veteran & Police Officer
Joe Jacobs, a native of St. Mary’s, Georgia, is an Army veteran and former Police Officer for the City of Charleston Police Department. He is a 2011 graduate of The Citadel, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. While studying at The Citadel Joe began to take an interest in government and criminal justice on both the local and federal levels. During his final year of military service Joe joined The Charleston Police Department, where he worked for six years in the downtown area. Joe cites the origins of his passion for criminal justice reform began when he started working in the Team 9 division of CPD, where many issues would arise, often stemming from substance abuse, homelessness, and mental health. Joe observed that the individuals who suffer from these issues would often be the most in need on a daily basis. It was also here that Joe would meet and discuss many aspects of policing with individuals from all walks of life on a daily basis. It was this constant exchange of ideas that allowed Joe to truly develop a desire to see sweeping, impactful change for all. Joe’s accolades with CPD include: Departmental Commendation from former Chief Greg Mullen in 2016, nominated for outstanding customer service award in 2016, distinguished graduate from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in 2014, and City of Charleston Employee of the Quarter in 2018.
