About Bickham Consulting
Female minority-owned small business established in 2017
Our Mission
Bickham Consulting & Solutions, LLC is committed and focused on providing exemplary detention operations optimization services to assist state, government and private detention service providers using audits, investigations, on-site facility monitoring and training to enable correctional facilities to develop, implement and sustain performance practices of safe, secure and humane services.
With an acumen towards correctional management, corrective action plans and viable inmate/detainee programs, our services will help correctional entities to address and correct policies and procedures, achieve compliance with State, Local or Federal laws and regulations and foster success in all areas of detention operations.
The executive staff have demonstrated leadership skills, committed to identifying deficient processes and providing quality improvement techniques utilizing dynamic, results-oriented problem solving skills. We provide services to federal, state and local government agencies.
Our team consists of various states, federal, and local correctional professionals with a determination to make a difference in ensuring a facility maintains the highest performance standard to ensure the safe, secure, humane conditions of confinement for inmates/detainees/prisoners and a safe working environment for correctional staff.
Our Executive Staff
Claudia Hill-Bickham, CEO
Claudia Hill-Bickham is a retired Senior Corrections Executive with over 40 years of adult and juvenile corrections. She has been recognized for outstanding performance at all levels in her career, dedicated towards improving underperforming operations, enhancing efficiencies, and building coalitions among disparate and technical operations.
While with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Prisons, Ms. Hill-Bickham held various positions in Case Management and the Executive level overseeing:
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the development of facility policy,
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leading internal audits utilizing the American Correctional Association Standards for accreditation
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organizing the transfer of over 8,000 inmates into privately operated and federal facilities in 2001.
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provided oversight of the United States Marshal Service $1.5 billion Detention Budget
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established the Detention Standards & Compliance Division
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developed a Quality Assurance Program for United States Marshal Service Pre-trial Detainees housed in private contract facilities and large Intergovernmental Agreement facilities.
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performed as a contract Subject Matter Expert performing Quality Assurance reviews and writing reports.
Marvin Bickham, CFO
Mr. Bickham is a retired Law Enforcement Special Agent with 38 years of law enforcement service. He has served in positions of graduated responsibility during his federal career beginning with Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) as a Correctional Officer, Case Management Team Member and Detention Correctional Specialist performing various duties such as inmate/detainee accountability, intake, classification and designation of Marial Cubans for repatriation.
As a FBOP Special Agent in the Office of Internal Affairs he conducted staff misconducted investigations and provided FBOP policy training to facility and contract staff on staff misconduct. In the DOJ, Office of the Inspector General as a Special Agent he had the responsibility of coordinating investigations with the United States Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, United States Marshal Service and FBOP.
He also investigated and coordinated criminal, civil, procurement and administrative matters and prepared indictments as a Special Agent with the DOJ Inspector General and the Department of Treasury, Inspector General. Mr. Bickham has performed as a Contract Subject Matter Expert and On-site Facility Monitor utilizing American Correctional Association Standards and Federal Performance Based Detention Standards for Pre-Trial United States Marshal Service Detainees housed in non-governmental facilities.
Gerald Bickham,
Operations Manager
Gerald Bickham brings more than 28 years of law enforcement experience, including 24 years with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). A United States Air Force veteran, he advanced through leadership roles from Correctional Officer to Captain before serving at CDCR Headquarters. His extensive experience includes facility operations, security, policy development, emergency response, accreditation, staff training, and PREA compliance. Throughout his career, Mr. Bickham worked with a wide range of inmate populations and contributed to policies and procedures that supported the safe and effective operation of California’s correctional facilities.
Dr. Desha Beford, MD, CCHP
Health Care Consultant
Dr. Desha Bedford is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, a Certified Correctional Health Professional, and brings more than 17 years of clinical experience, including over a decade in correctional healthcare. She currently provides physician leadership and clinical oversight for adult and juvenile correctional healthcare facilities in Baltimore, Maryland, while also maintaining experience in emergency and hospital-based care. As a Health Consultant with Bickham Consulting & Solutions, Dr. Bedford provides subject matter expertise in healthcare operations, clinical quality, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement. Her experience includes evaluating healthcare delivery systems, identifying clinical and operational risks, strengthening quality and continuity of care, and developing strategies to improve patient safety, accountability, and operational efficiency. With expertise across both correctional and community healthcare settings, Dr. Bedford brings a unique perspective to addressing the complex clinical, security, and logistical challenges of healthcare delivery.
Belinda Avalos,
Lead Project Manager
Belinda Avalos is a retired Associate Warden with more than 25 years of experience in adult corrections, federal correctional operations, and detention facility oversight. Throughout her career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, she held leadership roles including Associate Warden, Executive Assistant, Unit Manager, and Correctional Treatment Specialist, gaining extensive expertise in facility operations, policy implementation, quality assurance, accreditation, program oversight, and compliance. As a Lead Reviewer and Subject Matter Expert, Belinda also leads and supports Quality Assurance Review teams conducting on-site facility reviews for U.S. Marshals Service pretrial detainee housing. Her experience in administration, audit readiness, corrective action, and multidisciplinary team leadership allows her to provide valuable insight into creating safe, secure, compliant, and effective correctional environments.
