Meet Our Instructors
Department Chair
Ramona Gabriel Department Chair
Biography
Ramona has been teaching at De Anza College since 2020. She began her criminal justice career in 1987 as a clerk with the San Mateo County Release on Own Recognizance Program, where she worked for 15 years. In 2002, she transferred to the San Mateo County Probation Department, where she worked for more than 18 years. During her tenure at the Probation Department, Ramona worked in units including Domestic Violence, Veterans Court, Pathways (Mental Health Court), Court Services and Pre-Trial. As a probation services manager, she supervised the Intensive Supervision, Sex Offender, Specialty Courts and Post Release Community Supervision units. Ramona was also part of the Gang Task Force and the Community Awareness Program. She retired from the Probation Department in 2021.
In her spare time, Ramona enjoys learning how to play the piano, drinking her favorite cup of coffee and traveling.
Education
Ramona holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Communication/Leadership from Gonzaga University. She attended Fuller Theological Seminary, is currently a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University and is a member of the Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement.
Faculty
Amir Alem Part-Time Faculty Instructor
Biography
Amir Alem has been a deputy district attorney with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office since 1999. In addition to teaching at De Anza, he teaches police officers at the San Jose Police Department Academy and attorneys and investigators statewide for the California District Attorneys Association.Griffin Bonini Part-Time Faculty Instructor
Biography
Griffin Bonini has been teaching at De Anza College in the Administration of Justice and Paralegal programs since 2012. He has been a California Superior Court judge for 20 years and was a deputy district attorney before becoming a judge. He was also an attorney practicing civil litigation at several international law firms. As an attorney and judge, Griffin has prosecuted/defended and presided over thousands of cases of all types, including hundreds of jury trials. The cases have ranged from multimillion-dollar civil cases to all categories of criminal cases, including murder, sexual assault, gangs and three strikes. Griffin has served as the presiding judge of the Superior Court Appellate Panel as well as chair of the Education Committee.Jeremiah Garrido Part-Time Faculty Instructor
Biography
Jeremiah Garrido is currently a criminalist assigned to the forensic biology unit of a crime laboratory in the San Francisco Bay Area. His primary duties at the crime laboratory include assisting law enforcement in processing crime scenes for physical evidence, performing forensic DNA analysis and providing expert witness testimony in court. He has provided forensic analysis in various cases involving homicides, sexual assault investigations, property crimes, animal cruelty and cold cases over the 23 years he has been employed at the crime laboratory.Education
- Jeremiah holds a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of New Haven in Connecticut.
DuJuan Green Part-Time Faculty Instructor
Mallory Lawlor Part-Time Faculty Instructor
Janet Palmore Part-Time Faculty Instructor
Biography
Janet Palmore is a former special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), retiring after 24 years of service. She has conducted criminal investigations resulting in successful arrests and prosecutions in several high-profile cases related to complex financial crimes, violent crimes, transnational criminal enterprises, gangs, public corruption, human trafficking and civil rights violations. She was also assigned to a variety of federal, state and local law enforcement task forces, including Joint Terrorism, Safe Streets and Hate Crimes.Education
- Janet holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Political Science, and a Master of Science in Human Services Counseling — Crisis and Trauma Response.
