Independent Forensic Psychological Evaluation
When a criminal case turns on questions of mental state, the quality of the forensic psychological evaluation can determine everything that follows. Courts and attorneys across Southwest and West Central Virginia rely on Codex Psychological and Forensic Services for rigorous, defensible forensic evaluations conducted by a licensed psychologist with specialized training in forensic assessment.
Dr. Genevieve Bartuski provides two core forensic evaluation services: competency to stand trial assessments and criminal responsibility evaluations — commonly known as not guilty by reason of insanity or NGRI evaluations. Both are conducted with the methodological rigor, clinical depth, and clear written communication that courts and attorneys require.
Competency to Stand Trial Evaluations
A defendant's competency to stand trial is one of the most fundamental legal questions in criminal proceedings. Before a case can move forward, the court must be satisfied that the defendant understands the nature of the charges against them and can meaningfully participate in their own defense. When that question is genuinely in doubt, a competency evaluation is essential.
Dr. Bartuski conducts competency evaluations in accordance with the legal standard established in Dusky v. United States and the procedural requirements of Virginia Code § 19.2-169.1. Each evaluation includes a thorough clinical interview with the defendant, review of available legal, medical, and psychiatric records, and administration of standardized, forensically validated psychological assessment instruments designed specifically to measure competency-related abilities.
The resulting report addresses the legal standard directly, explains the clinical findings in plain language accessible to judges and attorneys, and provides a clearly reasoned professional opinion. Dr. Bartuski is available to testify regarding her findings at competency hearings and related proceedings.
What a competency evaluation addresses:
Whether the defendant has a rational and factual understanding of the charges and proceedings against them. Whether the defendant understands the roles of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and jury. Whether the defendant can communicate meaningfully with their attorney and assist in the preparation of their defense. Whether any identified mental health condition is affecting competency-related abilities and, if so, the nature and extent of that effect.
Criminal Responsibility Evaluations — Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI)
A criminal responsibility evaluation — commonly referred to as an insanity evaluation or NGRI evaluation — addresses a fundamentally different question than competency. Rather than looking at the defendant's current mental state, a criminal responsibility evaluation looks backward to the moment of the alleged offense and asks what the defendant's psychological state was at that specific time and whether that state meets Virginia's legal standard for the insanity defense.
This is among the most complex and high-stakes evaluations in forensic psychology. It requires a careful reconstruction of the defendant's mental state at the time of the offense through clinical interview, collateral record review, witness information where available, and the application of standardized forensic assessment methods. It also requires a thorough understanding of Virginia's legal standard and the ability to translate complex clinical findings into opinions that are legally meaningful and defensible under cross-examination.
Virginia follows a modified M'Naghten standard under Virginia Code § 19.2-168. A successful insanity defense requires establishing that at the time of the offense the defendant suffered from a mental disease or defect that caused them to not know the nature and character of their act or not know that the act was wrong. Dr. Bartuski's NGRI evaluations are structured to address this standard directly and to withstand the rigorous scrutiny these evaluations receive in Virginia courts.
What a criminal responsibility evaluation involves:
Comprehensive clinical interview with the defendant addressing mental state at the time of the offense. Thorough review of all available records — medical, psychiatric, legal, law enforcement, and collateral. Administration of standardized psychological and forensic assessment instruments. A written report addressing Virginia's legal standard with clearly reasoned findings and opinion. Availability for expert testimony at trial or related proceedings.
Service Area
Codex Psychological and Forensic Services primarily serves courts and attorneys in Southwest Virginia and West Central Virginia.
Southwest Virginia service area includes the cities of Bristol, Galax, and Norton and the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe.
West Central Virginia service area includes the cities of Bedford, Lynchburg, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Roanoke.
Attorneys outside these areas are welcome to reach out to discuss whether their matter is appropriate for the practice.
Working With Codex Psychological and Forensic Services
Referrals are accepted from defense attorneys, prosecutors, and courts. Court-ordered evaluations are accepted in accordance with Virginia Code § 19.2-169.1 and related statutes. Privately retained evaluations are available to defense and prosecution counsel.
To initiate a referral, attorneys should be prepared to provide a brief description of the case, the specific legal question to be addressed, a copy of any court order if applicable, and available records. Dr. Bartuski will discuss the scope of the evaluation, timeline, and fees before any commitment is made. The practice understands that legal deadlines are pressing and works to accommodate reasonable timelines wherever possible.
A Note on Qualifications
Dr. Genevieve Bartuski is a licensed psychologist holding active licenses in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Texas. She has specialized training and experience in forensic psychological evaluation, including competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility assessment. She is also one of a small number of psychologists in the United States specializing in cyberpsychology, and serves on the Cyberpsychology Committee of the British Psychological Society — though the forensic evaluation services described on this page are grounded in her Virginia forensic practice, not her technology work.
Every evaluation conducted at Codex Psychological and Forensic Services reflects the same commitment: thorough, honest, defensible work that holds up in court.
Virginia License No. 0810009332 | Texas License No. 40522.
How Dr. Bartuski Conducts Evaluations
All evaluations at Codex Psychological and Forensic Services are conducted personally by Dr. Bartuski. No aspect of the evaluation process — record review, clinical interview, psychological testing, formulation of opinions, or report writing — is delegated or assisted by artificial intelligence. Every opinion in every report is Dr. Bartuski's own professional judgment, grounded in her clinical training, forensic expertise, and direct evaluation of the individual. This is not a standard practice disclaimer — it is a meaningful professional commitment that matters when your expert is on the stand.
Evaluations are conducted primarily via HIPAA-compliant video conferencing, allowing the practice to serve courts and attorneys efficiently across Southwest and West Central Virginia without requiring defendant transport. Attorneys who privately retain the practice may discuss the option of an in-person evaluation conducted at their office, which is available on a case-by-case basis subject to travel arrangements.
Reports are written to be understood by judges and attorneys, not just clinicians. Findings are presented clearly, reasoning is explained transparently, and opinions are stated directly. Dr. Bartuski is experienced in preparing for and withstanding cross-examination and understands the Daubert considerations that apply to forensic psychological testimony in Virginia courts.
Forensic Services Inquiry
Thank you for your interest in forensic evaluation services. This contact form is intended for use by attorneys, judges, and other court-affiliated professionals. For general inquiries, please visit the Contact Page.
I hold approval from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to perform forensic psychological evaluations, including competency to stand trial (Va. Code § 19.2-169.1) and criminal responsibility/NGRI evaluations (Va. Code § 19.2-169.5).
Important: Submitting this form does not create a professional, evaluator-client, or confidential relationship. Please do not include confidential case information, privileged communications, or sensitive personal details in this message.
All evaluation referrals are subject to a review for conflicts of interest and availability prior to acceptance.