Experience in criminal law leads student to promising career – News

Francine Bacon, a criminal justice student from Burlington, NJ with minors in psychology and sociology, has completed a number of advanced experiences and is not done yet! With acceptance into a prestigious leadership institute, outstanding internships, and an on-campus research project already strengthening her resume, Bacon is expected to graduate in 2025 and is already thinking about her next move.

Bacon was originally recruited to play basketball at Lycoming, and although she no longer plays for the varsity team, she has remained on campus for many other reasons. “I had never heard of Lycoming, but after the warm welcome at Accepted Students Day, seeing the beautiful campus and mountains, and the small school atmosphere, I knew I wanted to go there. I like being able to build a personal relationship with my professors. The personal attention I have received has been invaluable,” she said.

“I appreciate being able to build a personal relationship with my professors. The personal attention I have received is invaluable.”

Bacon wasn’t sure what she wanted to study at first, but she took an introductory criminal justice course in her second semester and was immediately hooked. During her sophomore year, Kerry Richmond, Ph.D., associate professor of criminal justice and criminology, nominated Bacon for the National Education for Women’s Leadership Pennsylvania, a six-day intensive leadership and public policy course in Pittsburgh designed to educate and empower young women. Not surprisingly, Bacon was accepted.

“The Leadership Institute has had a profound impact on me. It is a wonderful program that has exposed me to many strong female leaders and has really helped me grow as a student and aspiring professional,” said Bacon.

Bacon then traveled back home to intern with the Philadelphia Justice Project for Women and Girls. She had connected with the program’s founder and director, Dr. Jill McCorkel, during a lecture on the Lycoming campus. “Dr. McCorkel was really interested in me and my passions and thought I would be a good fit for the internship. I was assigned to go through the files of an incarcerated woman to see what the attorneys had missed and if there was a case to pardon her,” said Bacon, who is now leaning more toward a career on the legal and policy side of criminal justice.

During the spring 2024 semester, Bacon worked as a research assistant for Richmond on a reentry study, compiling the experiences of individuals from across the state who were released from prison. Bacon worked with the Pennsylvania Reentry Council, interviewing reentrants, uncovering details about their reentry process, and finding out whether reentry was successful.

In her free time, Bacon is an active member of the Black Student Union and is currently the group’s vice president. She also volunteers with the Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action (CAPPA), mentoring local youth every Saturday. “Cappa is such an impactful program and it’s so fun that it doesn’t even feel like volunteering.” In addition, she tutors in “Sociology of Race and Ethnicity” and is active in student involvement.

This summer, Bacon received an internship at a local public defender’s office through the college’s Williamsport Internship Summer Experience (WISE) program and spent the summer interviewing clients, attending trials and assisting with jury selection.

“Francine has impressive experiences and also stands out in the classroom. She is dedicated, attentive, motivated and cares deeply about social issues,” Richmond said.

After graduating from Lycoming, Francine plans to continue her education in graduate school. “Lycoming is not the last stop for me,” she said.