For Janelle Crisp, creating safer communities begins with something fundamental: seeing people without judgment while still holding them accountable.

That philosophy has guided Crisp throughout her career in forensic counseling, where she works at the intersection of mental health, rehabilitation and the legal system. It also helped inspire her decision to pursue a doctorate in criminal justice at PennWest University.

Now, the owner and program director of Crisp Forensic Counseling is receiving recognition for her work and leadership as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 honorees.

“Being recognized among Pittsburgh’s 40 Under 40 is deeply validating, not just personally, but for the specialized field of forensic mental health,” she said. “This work often happens behind the scenes, addressing some of the most complex challenges at the intersection of therapy, rehabilitation and the legal system.”

Crisp’s career has been shaped by a belief that public safety and rehabilitation are not competing goals. Instead, she sees authentic human connection, accountability and evidence-based treatment as essential pieces of the same process.

Early in her career, Crisp said she recognized that meaningful change often begins when professionals are able to meet individuals without bias.

As her career progressed, Crisp became increasingly interested in understanding not only human behavior and therapeutic practice, but also the broader criminal justice system in which forensic counseling operates.

That realization led her to PennWest’s doctoral program in criminal justice.

Crisp entered the program with a strong background in human behavior, therapy and psychological theory, but her professional experiences showed her the value of developing a deeper understanding of criminal justice policy, legal systems and criminological theory.

“Working directly at the law-adjacent intersection of mental health and the legal system made me realize that clinical insight alone was not enough,” she said. “To truly impact public safety and navigate high-risk legal frameworks, I needed to understand criminal justice at its highest level.”

Her doctoral studies are helping her connect those disciplines.

“Pursuing my doctorate in criminal justice has allowed me to bridge that gap, combining deep psychological principles with advanced criminological theory and policy,” Crisp said.

Crisp said her PennWest coursework has reinforced the importance of objective, data-informed decision-making while also strengthening her approach to leadership.

“Leading in a forensic setting requires guiding a team to navigate complex legal systems with absolute objectivity while maintaining deep empathy and non-judgment for the clients we serve,” she said.

Completing doctoral work while leading a business and raising a family requires its own balancing act.

For Crisp, that balance is less about trying to devote equal attention to everything at once than recognizing what requires her attention at a particular moment.

“Balancing Crisp Forensic Counseling, my doctoral program at PennWest and motherhood is not about ‘having it all’ at every single moment,” she said. “Rather, it is about relentless prioritization, intentional presence and fierce time management.”

Crisp is already looking toward how she can apply her doctoral education to the next stage of her work.

Her long-term vision includes expanding Crisp Forensic Counseling beyond specialized outpatient services to become a resource for forensic training, professional consultation, policy advocacy and reentry support throughout Pennsylvania.