Public by Default Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Jason KS Porter Attorney at Law

Introduction

Many documents related to arrests and court proceedings are accessible to the public well before any verdict is reached. While openness in government is vital, public availability of arrest records and law-enforcement files can create serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and long-term consequences for individuals—particularly those later exonerated. Applicants are encouraged to consider the social, professional, and emotional effects of publicly available criminal records and to suggest reforms that strike a fair balance between transparency and protection.

Eligibility

• Open to legal U.S. residents who live in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and who are currently enrolled as a high school senior, in a vocational program, or at a two- to four-year postsecondary institution; graduate students are also eligible.
• Must be actively enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year college or university (graduate students qualify by enrollment in a graduate program).
• Employees of Problems? Pick Porter., their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, and spouses), and anyone living in the same household as those employees—whether related or not—are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and be in good academic standing.

Application requirements

• Submit an original essay of 750–1,000 words responding to the prompt: Analyze how Florida’s expansive application of its public records law impacts people who face criminal charges. Because arrest records, court filings, and law-enforcement documents are often publicly accessible before a conviction, discuss the tension between government transparency and individual privacy. Examine the social, professional, and emotional consequences of public criminal records—especially for those later found not guilty—and recommend reforms that uphold public accountability while shielding individuals from enduring harm. Citing specific types of charges or cases to show real-world effects is encouraged.
• All essays will be evaluated for AI-generated content. Applications containing writing determined to be produced by AI will be disqualified.
• Provide a professional résumé outlining academic and work experience.
• Supply an academic transcript from the applicant’s current school. First-year college students, graduate students, and recent transfers may provide an unofficial transcript from their present institution plus the most recent official transcript from their previous school. High school applicants may submit documentation of acceptance to a college or university in lieu of a college transcript.
• Preference will be given to applicants who are from, or are attending secondary school in, the state.