Illinois’s justice system is being asked to answer questions that often begin long before someone enters a courtroom. Many people who enter the system are carrying untreated mental health concerns or histories of trauma that shape how they move through legal proceedings.
When those needs go unrecognized, legal decisions can miss important context about a person’s behavior and capacity.
That is where forensic psychology plays an essential role. At the intersection of psychology and law, forensic psychology helps courts and justice professionals understand the human factors behind legal questions.
Ana Belmonte, Psy.D., a faculty member at The Chicago School and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, emphasizes this need as part of a recurring cycle, especially in large systems like Cook County.
“It’s this revolving door of individuals who have severe mental illness or other mental health conditions that impact their ability to function daily,” she says. “They don’t get adequate treatment or adequate representation.”
When people enter the justice system without adequate support, courts may be asked to answer questions that require psychological expertise. Forensic psychologists are trained to connect clinical findings to legal questions in ways courts and legal systems can use.
Why Is Mental Health a Challenge in the Illinois Justice System?
In Illinois, Dr. Belmonte points to a familiar pattern: People with severe mental illness may move through the system without receiving sustained treatment.
“That’s really one of the biggest issues these days, is the lack of treatment and sending people back into the community,” she says.
Why Does the Justice System Need Forensic Psychologists?
People may enter the justice system while experiencing symptoms that affect daily functioning. Others may struggle to communicate clearly or participate fully in legal proceedings.
In those moments, justice professionals need deeper context than a case record can provide.
Forensic psychologists help examine:
- Mental health symptoms that may affect legal participation
- Treatment needs that could support stability
- Risk factors that may shape supervision planning
- Psychological functioning in custody
- Community support needs after release.
This type of work gives courts a clearer basis for decisions involving treatment needs and supervision planning.
What Is Forensic Psychology?
The field of forensic psychology is often misunderstood. It involves applying psychological knowledge to legal settings, allowing courts, agencies, and communities to understand behavior better.
“The broadest way you can define the field of forensic psychology is where psychology and the law intersect,” she shares.
The Chicago School’s forensic psychology graduate programs are designed for students who want to work at this intersection of human behavior and the legal system, with training that emphasizes ethical practice and real-world application.
What Do Forensic Psychologists Do?
Dr. Belmonte explains that forensic psychologists may be involved across criminal and civil settings, from pre-arrest questions through reentry.
Their responsibilities may include:
- Competency to stand trial evaluations
- Criminal responsibility evaluations
- Risk assessments
- Correctional treatment
- Victim advocacy
- Expert witness consultation
- Reentry support
Dr. Belmonte also notes that competency to stand trial evaluations are among the largest referral areas for forensic assessment services.
This work matters because competency is tied to fairness. When a person’s mental health affects how they understand proceedings, a psychological assessment can help the court respond with greater care.
How Do Forensic Psychologists Support Legal Decision-Making?
Courts may need to understand whether someone can proceed to trial, while probation teams may need guidance when a person is struggling to comply with requirements.
Forensic psychologists help answer these questions through assessment and professional judgment.
Justice professionals make high-impact decisions every day, and forensic psychologists can add clinical context before those decisions affect a person’s case.
How Do Psychological Evaluations Help Courts Make Decisions?
Psychological evaluations and risk assessments can help courts understand the person before them. They may also help identify interventions that support safety while addressing underlying concerns.
These assessments can help clarify:
- Whether someone understands court proceedings
- How symptoms may affect behavior
- Whether treatment could reduce future risk
- What type of supervision may be appropriate
- Which services may support reentry
With this information, legal systems can weigh legal facts alongside the person’s mental health needs.
How Do Forensic Psychologists Reduce Bias in the Justice System?
The justice system involves many decision points that can shape a person’s experience long before reaching an actual outcome.
Dr. Belmonte emphasizes that bias can enter at multiple stages.
“There are all of these pinpoint decisions that affect a singular person,” she says. “All these people who are making those decisions may or may not be aware of what biases they carry into making those decisions.”
Forensic psychology helps make these decision points more clear, giving justice systems language for how assumptions can influence judgment.
How Does Ethical Practice Help Reduce Bias?
Forensic psychologists consider their own assumptions while applying professional standards. This training supports objectivity in high-stakes settings.
“There’s no way to cure bias, but the bias can be addressed,” Dr. Belmonte says. “Bias can only be addressed if someone is aware of it.”
That awareness is part of ethical forensic practice. It helps professionals assess decision-making and better understand how those decisions may affect people from different backgrounds.
At The Chicago School, this kind of preparation supports students as they learn to enter complex systems with humility and discipline.
How Can Forensic Psychology Improve the Illinois Justice System?
A responsive justice system looks for points where informed intervention can change a person’s path.
Forensic psychology can support that work through treatment recommendations and reentry planning. It can also contribute to policy conversations that shape how systems respond to people with mental health needs.
Dr. Belmonte describes her work with an Illinois group focused on juvenile fitness to stand trial standards. That work draws on knowledge of juvenile development and competency evaluation.
“I can use my knowledge to hopefully try and change the overall system that affects how kids are evaluated,” Dr. Belmonte says.
That statement reflects a larger purpose in the field. Forensic psychologists may work directly with individuals, while their knowledge can also inform broader change.
How Does Forensic Psychology Support Treatment and Rehabilitation?
Forensic psychology can help the justice system identify what a person needs before the same cycle repeats. That may include treatment, supervision planning, or services that support a safer return to the community.
Forensic psychologists often contribute to:
- Diversion planning
- Treatment court recommendations
- Competency restoration
- Juvenile justice reform
- Reentry support
- Correctional treatment planning
This work helps courts and agencies respond to people as human beings with histories and capacity for change.
How Does The Chicago School Prepare Future Forensic Psychologists?
The growing need for forensic psychologists places new importance on graduate education that prepares students for the realities of the field.
The Chicago School offers pathways for students interested in forensic psychology that connect psychological study with legal application.
Students can explore programs such as:
- A. Applied Forensic Psychology
- A. Forensic Psychology: Professional Counselor Licensure
- D. Clinical Forensic Psychology
Each pathway supports a different professional direction. Some students may pursue clinical practice, while others may be drawn to applied roles in legal or public safety settings.
Why Learn From Practitioner Faculty?
“The Chicago School in general is a practitioner-forward institution,” Dr. Belmonte says. “We really value having people teaching students in the classroom who have the experience themselves.”
This approach reflects The Chicago School’s scholar-practitioner faculty model, which gives students access to instructors who understand the pace and complexity of real-world industry work.
That connection to practice is especially important in forensic psychology. Students benefit from learning with faculty who understand the pace and complexity of the field.
Dr. Belmonte notes that instructors often bring case examples into the classroom, helping students connect course concepts to real-world situations: “No realities are hidden away from our students in the classroom.”
This emphasis on applied training reflects The Chicago School’s commitment to preparing students for forensic settings where ethical judgment and community context matter.
Why Is Real-World Training Important in Forensic Psychology?
In licensure-based programs, students complete practicum or internship experiences in supervised settings. These experiences help students understand the work before they step into their first professional role.
This training can help students discover where they feel called to serve. It can also help them understand which areas of forensic psychology fit their strengths.
“From the day our students walk in the door, we are treating them like pre-professionals,” says Dr. Belmonte.
Why Forensic Psychology Is About More Than Criminal Profiling
One of the most important lessons Dr. Belmonte shares is also one of the simplest: “Forensic psychology is not criminal profiling.”
Forensic psychologists help courts better understand behavior. They support systems that need psychological expertise. They work with people whose lives may be shaped by decisions made in courtrooms, correctional facilities, or community programs.
“You’re still going to work with a human being and try to understand who they are,” Dr. Belmonte says.
As mental health needs continue to surface within the justice system, forensic psychologists can help legal systems respond with greater context and stronger ethical grounding. The Chicago School prepares students to meet this need through practical training and respect for the people affected by the justice system.
Take the Next Step Toward a Career in Forensic Psychology
If you’re ready to help courts, communities, and individuals navigate the complex intersection of mental health and the law, The Chicago School can help you build the knowledge and practical experience to make an impact. Explore graduate programs in forensic psychology and take the first step toward a meaningful career by completing the brief form below. An admissions representative will contact you to discuss your goals, answer your questions, and help you find the program that’s right for you.