FAMU Law Interns On Their Way To Changing The Prison, Educational Systems

Two Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Law students made presentations at the winter quarterly National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) statewide meeting in Orlando on January 26, 2019.
Cassandra Brown’s presentation was titled “School-to-Prison Pipeline, Truly a Respecter of Persons; Disproportionately Affects Minority Children.”
Brown’s white paper takes a closer look at the growing issue of juveniles in the court system following behavioral problems in the school system.
“I am interested in this topic because some minority children are getting suspended, expelled and arrested for minor infractions that should be addressed in school, not in the juvenile criminal justice system,” said Cassandra Brown, FAMU Law student. “I believe minority children are being disproportionately funneled into the school to prison pipeline without adequate consideration to the underlying socio-economic, mental health, social or dysfunctional family issues.”
Sarah Diekman presented on “The State of Pre-K Education in the United States.”
Her white paper addressed the access and quality of pre-k education nationally, examining racial and social economic disparities and developing best practices.
Quality pre-K programs such as Head Start are shown to reduce the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on children.
“Head Start addresses the physical, mental and educational needs of children and provides needed child care which increases the likelihood of a household breaking the cycle of poverty,” said Sarah Diekman, FAMU Law student. “My white paper examines and defines the policies that are working so they can continue to grow with the support of civil rights groups, and identity areas that need improvement and/or change.”
Brown and Diekman are participating in the Florida NAACP’s Spring 2019 Legal Internship Program.
They, along with five other legal interns, were invited to present their legal projects to the 120 senior officials representing Florida’s 40 NAACP branches in attendance at the quarterly meeting at the Rosen Centre Hotel.
The FAMU College of Law is located in the heart of Downtown Orlando, just steps from the George C. Young United States Courthouse and Federal Building; and blocks from governmental offices, major law firms, large corporations and legal service agencies.
The college’s prime location provides students with direct access to the area’s largest employers of individuals with law degrees, offering our students and graduates ample avenues to gain practical experience in the legal profession.