A. Kerry

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the accused's fitness to stand trial and her disposition.

The accused, who has schizophrenia, was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault with a weapon.

Despite some clinical improvements, the accused continued to experience active delusions, lacked insight into her mental illness, and adamantly denied having any outstanding charges.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's evidence and found that the accused remained unfit to stand trial as she could not meaningfully instruct counsel.

The Board concluded that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of her Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and polysubstance use disorder.

Despite psychiatric stability, the accused had recurrent substance use and engaged in fraudulent financial behaviour.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had made some progress but continued to struggle with insight, medication adherence, and substance cravings.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order to ensure adequate monitoring and protection of the public.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to restrict the liberty of the accused, who had previously been found not criminally responsible.

The accused's liberty was restricted when he was transferred to the Forensic Assessment Unit and his community passes were revoked following an involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act due to active psychotic symptoms and aggressive behaviour.

The Board found that the restriction of liberty was significant, necessary, and appropriate, representing the least onerous and least restrictive measure to ensure public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assaulting a peace officer.

The Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing substance use, lack of insight, and risk of decompensation if unsupervised.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition with a transfer to the Brébeuf program at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, restricting travel passes to Southern Ontario to prioritize rehabilitation and community reintegration with family support.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a history of treatment non-compliance and substance abuse.

The hospital recommended a continued detention disposition with an increased reporting frequency, while working towards a community housing placement.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a detention disposition with privileges up to living in the community, emphasizing the need for a cautious approach to his transition to less structured housing.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not guilty by reason of insanity for second-degree murder in 1987.

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, sought an independent housing assessment, arguing a residential impasse existed under the Shortt framework.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of decompensation and violence if unmedicated.

The Board renewed the detention disposition but expanded the geographic scope for supervised community accommodation to all of Southern Ontario, finding that an independent housing assessment was currently unwarranted given the hospital's ongoing placement efforts.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault.

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and an unspecified paraphilic disorder, and continues to exhibit sexually inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties and the uncontroverted evidence of the attending psychiatrist that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition at the hospital, finding it necessary to manage her risk while efforts continue to find appropriate community housing.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to readmit the accused and restrict his liberties following a positive urine drug screen for methamphetamines.

The accused, who has a history of substance-induced psychosis and schizophrenia, denied substance use and alleged his urine samples were tampered with.

The Board found the accused's testimony lacked credibility and upheld the hospital's decision, concluding that the readmission and ongoing restriction of liberties were warranted and represented the least restrictive means to stabilize his mental state and manage his risk to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a successful year in the community with no hospital readmissions, maintained abstinence, and complied with treatment.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's uncontroverted evidence that the accused's mental state remains fragile and he would rapidly decompensate without forensic oversight.

The Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a loosened conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon.

The accused has diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders, and has a history of violent conduct while under the Board's jurisdiction.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, as he would likely become non-compliant with medication and relapse into substance use without supervision.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention disposition, denying the accused's request to amend the disposition to allow the use of cannabis under medical supervision.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon.

The accused sought an absolute discharge to live with his father, the victim of the index offence.

The hospital and Crown recommended a renewed detention order with community living privileges in Hamilton.

Relying on the expert evidence of the attending psychiatrist, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder, limited insight, and risk of rapid decompensation if non-compliant with medication.

The Board renewed the detention order with added community living provisions and removed the incendiary device prohibition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of uttering threats and forcible confinement.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continued to experience grandiose delusions and believed his charges were resolved.

Applying the Supreme Court's recent decision in Bharwani, the Board found the accused remained unfit to stand trial.

The Board also found he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the hospital, but granted an expansion of privileges to include indirectly supervised community passes, subject to mental state monitoring and random drug screening.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for arson and possession of an incendiary device, underwent an annual Review Board hearing.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the Detention Order, while the accused requested an Absolute Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his untreated schizophrenia, lack of insight, medication refusal, and recent verbal altercations.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order, concluding it was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, diagnosed with Delusional Disorder, had made significant progress and was compliant with antipsychotic medication.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to marginal insight and the risk of relapse if untreated.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order but added privileges for community living and indirectly supervised passes to facilitate gradual reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for an indecent act, criminal harassment, and uttering threats.

The accused sought a Conditional Discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General sought a continuation of the Detention Order.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his persistent schizophrenia, refractory psychotic symptoms, lack of insight, and history of noncompliance with treatment.

The Board concluded that a Detention Order remained the least onerous and least restrictive disposition to ensure public safety and allow for rapid readmission if necessary.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for arson, was subject to an annual review by the Ontario Review Board.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, arguing he was no longer a significant threat to public safety.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the detention order.

The Board found that the accused's ongoing substance use, particularly crack cocaine, acted as a destabilizer that increased his risk of psychiatric decompensation and violence.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board concluded the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the detention order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault.

The accused has a complex psychiatric history, including schizoaffective disorder, an acquired brain injury, and a substance use disorder, alongside an extensive criminal record.

While the accused had a positive year with medication adherence and substance abstinence, the Board found he remains a significant threat to public safety due to his risk of decompensation and reoffending without forensic structure.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, allowing the hospital to manage his transition to appropriate community housing.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault and assaulting a police officer.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had a history of medication noncompliance and violence when unwell.

Although his condition improved significantly after starting Clozapine, he continued to exhibit residual disorganization, mild paranoia, and limited insight.

The Board accepted the medical evidence that the accused would likely discontinue medication and deteriorate rapidly without the supervision of the forensic service.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault and uttering threats, was subject to a detention disposition.

The hospital sought a renewal of the detention order, arguing that the accused's cannabis use posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused had been consistently compliant with his antipsychotic medication and had not exhibited violent behaviour since the index offences, even when using cannabis.

The Board concluded that the evidence linking his cannabis use to a substantial risk of serious harm was speculative.

Finding that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to the safety of the public, the Board granted an absolute discharge.