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Trauma can change the way a person thinks, feels, remembers, reacts, and functions. In legal cases, those changes can be highly relevant. A history of trauma may help explain a person’s behavior, emotional functioning, decision-making, substance use, interpersonal difficulties, or psychiatric symptoms. At the same time, courts must be able to rely on forensic psychological opinions as objective, evidence-based, and credible. This is especially important when trauma is offered

When a teenager commits a serious crime, the public reaction is often swift and unforgiving: try them as an adult, sentence them as an adult, and throw away the key. That impulse is understandable. The harm caused by juvenile offenders is real, and the pain of victims demands to be honored. But here is what the science tells us, and what the law is slowly beginning to accept: the teenage brain is fundamentally, biologically different from the adult brain. And a justice system

The competency restoration system in many states, including Illinois, is under significant strain. Long waitlists for inpatient beds, increasing numbers of unfit defendants, and evolving statutory guidance have forced courts and clinicians to rethink a basic question: Who actually needs inpatient restoration, and who does not? This is no longer a theoretical issue. It is a daily, practical problem affecting case timelines, defendants’ rights, and public safety. The Legal Star

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is increasingly recognized in forensic settings—not because individuals on the spectrum are more likely to engage in criminal behavior, but because the legal system is often not designed for neurodivergent communication styles, social reasoning patterns, and sensory differences. When autism intersects with criminal proceedings, the most important question is not “Does this person have ASD?” but rather, “How does ASD affect their functional abili

Courts are often asked to make decisions that require more than a simple determination of whether an offense occurred. Sentencing, diversion, probation conditions, and placement decisions all involve judgment about risk, rehabilitation potential, and proportionality. Forensic psychological evaluations can assist by identifying mitigating factors, which are clinically supported circumstances that help explain the pathway to offending behavior. Mitigation is not the same as exc

In Illinois, a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card is a required credential for anyone who wants to legally possess or purchase firearms or ammunition. It does not authorize someone to carry a firearm in public, and it does not replace a concealed carry license. Instead, it functions as a baseline eligibility card that confirms a person meets the State’s legal requirements to possess firearms under Illinois law. From a public-safety standpoint, the FOID system gives Il

Across the United States, competency to stand trial evaluations have shifted from a routine procedural safeguard to one of the most pressing bottlenecks in the criminal legal system. Courts are overwhelmed, jails are overcrowded, defendants are waiting months for restoration services, and states are facing lawsuits alleging violations of constitutional rights. The crisis is real. But it is not unmanageable. With the right reforms, it’s possible to restore efficiency, fairness

Criminal profiling, more accurately called behavioral analysis, is not a burst of intuition pinned to a corkboard covered in red string, nor does it look like FBI Agent Clarice Starling going after Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs . It’s a disciplined blend of psychology and investigation that helps law enforcement understand why an offender acted the way they did and what they might do next. The goal isn’t to name a suspect but to narrow the field, sharpen inter

Political assassinations and attempts in the U.S. don’t erupt from nowhere. They emerge from a predictable mix of grievance fused to...

When a person dies under ambiguous, unexpected, or suspicious circumstances, the cause of death may not be purely a medical question....

In today’s workplace, safety, performance, and mental well-being are closely linked. When an employee’s behavior, mental health, or...

In the world of forensic psychology, few tools are as valuable as the Psychological Independent Medical Examination (IME) . Whether...

The insanity defense is one of the most misunderstood—and often controversial—legal strategies in the criminal justice system. Rooted in...

When most people hear the word "psychologist," they picture someone in a quiet office, perhaps sitting across from a client and offering...

In the courtroom, justice must be more than fair—it must be informed. One of the most critical yet often misunderstood mechanisms that...

In criminal cases, a defendant’s Miranda rights ensure that their statements to law enforcement are voluntary and legally admissible....

The intersection of mental illness and criminal behavior is a subject of ongoing debate in forensic psychology and the criminal justice...

In the wake of mass shootings, the question often arises: What role does mental illness play in these devastating events? The...

Forensic psychology has become a popular topic in mainstream media, captivating audiences with dramatic portrayals of criminal profiling...

Malingering, a term often synonymous with deception, plays a significant role in forensic psychology. This behavior involves the...