Fall 2025 Winner of the Criminal Justice Scholarship

Abigail So

Abigail has a strong passion for criminal justice reform, especially when it comes to increasing access to legal representation for those who cannot afford it. She believes that proactive and informative measures are key to ensuring that at-risk communities know their rights. Congratulations, Abigail—we admire your commitment to justice!

Read her essay:

I never imagined a single yes ‑ or ‑ no question could decide a person’s fate—until I watched a terrified defendant in a cold interrogation room nod “yes” just to end sixteen hours of isolation, deception, and sleep deprivation. Researcher Fred Inbau warns that interrogations shouldn’t exceed three to four hours, yet Drizin and Leo found the average false ‑ confession session lasts over sixteen hours (Inbau, 1967; Drizin & Leo, 2008). Under these conditions—prolonged isolation, fatigue, and promises of leniency—another study demonstrated that even the innocent will confess merely to escape immediate distress (Kassin, 1996). Such practices prey on vulnerability, especially for those who lack counsel—and the consequences can be irreversible.

My passion for criminal justice reform began during my junior thesis at Penn, where I dedicated a year ‑ long research project to the psychology of false confessions and the systemic failures that condemn innocent people. But theories only became real when I volunteered at a pro bono legal clinic for low ‑ income Chicagoans. There, many clients arrived already traumatized by the legal system—and then confronted an impossible language barrier. As a Spanish translator, I guided monolingual speakers through the labyrinth of court forms, explained their rights in plain terms, and witnessed firsthand how interpretation can mean the difference between freedom and a wrongful conviction. Every time a client leaned forward, relief in their eyes, I was reminded: access to legal representation isn’t just about a lawyer—it’s about understanding.

That conviction drives my commitment to increase access to legal representation for those who cannot afford it. As an incoming 1L at Penn Law, I will join Penn’s Criminal Defense Clinic, where students provide direct representation under faculty supervision. There, I will ensure that every client with limited English proficiency can be accompanied by trained interpreters for consultations, hearings, and critical decision ‑ making moments. By embedding interpretation services into the clinic’s work, we uphold the Sixth Amendment right to counsel in practice, not just in theory.

But even the best representation can arrive too late. To reach vulnerable communities earlier, I plan to collaborate with local community centers and shelters to host “Know Your Rights” workshops—bilingual sessions that demystify Miranda warnings, explain the risks of prolonged questioning, and show individuals how to request counsel. Drawing on my experience translating health ‑ education materials for PennKDSAP, I will help craft clear, culturally sensitive guides that empower people before they step into an interrogation room.

My experience at JPMorgan taught me to build persuasive, data ‑ driven presentations; my clinic work taught me that every spoken word can alter a life’s trajectory. Now, Penn Law offers the chance to merge rigorous systematic analysis with hands-on advocacy. By expanding interpretation services within the Criminal Defense Clinic and delivering early ‐ intervention education in communities, I will help ensure that legal representation is not a luxury—but a guaranteed right for all.

When access to counsel depends on language or wealth, justice becomes a privilege. I am determined to reshape the system so that every voice—regardless of background—can be heard, understood, and defended.