Bluestone Forensic Evaluations

05/21/2023

We are so excited for our colleagues who just opened their new practice (including forensic evaluations) in Norfolk, VA. It is critical to have highly trained and competent evaluators in our region. They are going to do excellent work! Welcome TriCoastal Psychological Services, LLC!

09/01/2021

11/07/2020

Drs. Osborn and Grossi have been busy this year. Since January, we completed approximately 90 evaluations for the court for defendants across five cities, five local/regional jails, and on bond. We've had about 4 orders vacated for one reason or another. The COVID-19 pandemic did slow the evaluation process along with the courts, but we've picked back the last few months and have seen a huge increase in evaluations. As of today, all records and materials are again re-organized and filed for safe keeping.

07/10/2020

As the courts come back into session, we are getting more orders for evaluations, which is terrific! After talking to a few defense and commonwealth attorneys in the last two weeks I wanted to reiterate. 1.) Competency to stand trial has to do with a defendant's present abilities to assist counsel in his or her defense, and understand their charges and court proceedings. 2.) Sanity or mental status at the time of the offense, has to do with a defendant's mental health/status at the time of the alleged charges, so in the past (not present). 3.) Defendant's must be competent to stand trial to participate in sanity evaluation and/or use that legal strategy (if they meet the criteria set by case law).

04/25/2020

We are following this closely. With active cases in two jails, it is likely the virus will spread, potentially quickly, which affects the jails, state hospital, and the courts. Please be vigilant!

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/portsmouth/three-workers-at-hampton-roads-regional-jail-test-positive-for-covid-19/291-105d8753-a669-4df7-9986-06cc3429cce8

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-virus-outbreak-norfolk-jail-20200424-l5enhuztnrfobbrn3svvtch5hq-story.html

Also as of Friday, eight inmates at the jail have tested positive for the coronavirus.

04/10/2020

Drs. Laura Grossi and Osborn have been very busy the last few weeks. COVID19 has shown us an increase in court-ordered evaluations. We've been in Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail, group homes, rehab facilities, outpatient bond evals, and conducted our first tele-health video forensic evaluation. We've done our best to take precautions during these uncertain times. We remain essential mental health providers during this pandemic and will continue to provide evaluations for the court to aid pre-trial defendant's right to Due Process.

03/20/2020

These are unprecedented times. Given the Supreme Court of Virginia's statement to continue hearings in General District and Circuit Courts for 21 days, with some exceptions, Bluestone is monitoring all of our current evaluations for new hearing dates or dates which are unchanged. We will work to see defendants, as able, on bond or in jail until otherwise directed, or no longer able to for varying and unforeseen reasons. We recognize the further limitations this places on defendant's right to due process and will work with the courts as new information becomes available and course correct as needed. Stay healthy!

02/21/2020

I saw this news article/post going around a lot of the mental health blogs this week (I have no involvement or specific knowledge of this case in Maryland - but speak broadly here) and saw a lot of comments wondering why defendants are not restored.

Why are some persons with mental illness/defendants not able to be restored to competency to stand trial? Being competent to stand trial in Virginia is based on the Dusky v U.S. (1960) standards, so defendants need a factual and rational understanding of their legal situation, ability to assist counsel in their defense, and comport in court.

Many defendants with mental illness and active symptoms can learn factual legal issues information. Rational abilities are a common domain that is typically associated with unrestorable opinions. Rational abilities have to do with an individual's deeper understanding of their case, understanding of evidence, ability to weigh evidence, ability to talk about the events leading up to their arrest free from delusional beliefs (noted above), ability to discuss and appreciate legal strategy and advice from their defense counsel, ability to appreciate, fully, potential outcomes from court like prosecution, potential incarceration, and how that will affect their life.

Serious mental illness tends to hurt rational domains related to competency. For example, residual symptoms like auditory hallucinations affect attention, concentration, and ultimately comprehension so it's hard for individuals to meet with their attorney, or track the demands of the courtroom and trial process. Underlying disorganized thought processes again make it hard to engage in executive functioning abilities required for more complex court cases which require multiple hearings, recalling information from previous hearings, ability to track witnesses testifying, or ability to testify. Disorganized thought processes and delusional beliefs also distort an individual's narrative of the events leading up to his or her arrest which means they cannot provide accurate information to their defense attorney. The very setting of a courtroom can be so anxiety provoking that it becomes hard for an individual to comport and maintain control of his or her behavior. If individuals with mania or psychosis become too anxious/distress it tends to exacerbate other symptoms of mental illness, such as triggering hallucinations.

Next time, I'll comment on what it takes to support an unrestorable opinion and what happens next to the patient/defendant. Stay tuned!

The Maryland mother cannot be held indefinitely on homicide charges while she remains mentally unfit to be tried, her defense attorney argues.

02/07/2020

I am pleased to introduce Dr. Grossi! Dr. Grossi has been working as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for the Commonwealth and in private practice for the last few years. She is on the Commissioner of Mental Health’s list of approved forensic examiners. She completed her predoctoral internship through Eastern Virginia Medical School and has received post-doctoral supervision at Eastern State Hospital. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, M.A. in Forensic Psychology, and M.A. in General/Theoretical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her B.A. in Psychology and B.A. in Law/Justice Studies are from Rowan University. She has authored over 13 articles in empirical journals, 3 book chapters, and has been invited for six professional talks. She is an expert scientist-practitioner, and Bluestone is thrilled to have her on board!

02/01/2020

Hello! My name is Dr. Osborn, owner of Bluestone Forensic Evaluations, LLC. Bluestone grew out of my previous work and collaboration with Dr. Vanskiver at Oceanside Evaluations, LLC. I am moving forward conducting exclusively forensic evaluations for the court in the Hampton Roads area. I am excited about this step, it has been a long time in the making. I am hoping to use this page to share some of the work that I do broadly and provide education to the public on issues of law, psychology/psychiatry, public policy, mental health/illness, and interaction between these systems based on my expertise and empirical research. I hope you'll support and follow my page, ask questions, and consider thinking about some of these complicated and important issues. I am proud to continue doing this work and providing excellent evaluations for defendants and the court.