Alexander Sosna

The accused was found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and is subject to a detention order.

At his annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the hospital, Crown, and defence jointly submitted that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board accepted the joint submission, noting that while his schizophrenia is in remission and he has made significant progress, he lacks supportive housing in the community and would likely discontinue medication and become psychotic without the structure of a Disposition.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention order.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and assault, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual disposition hearing.

The clinical team and all parties jointly submitted that the accused had made excellent progress, remained compliant with treatment, and abstained from substances while residing in supportive housing.

The Board agreed that a conditional discharge was the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage his residual risk while furthering his reintegration into the community.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for multiple violent and weapons-related offences, was subject to an annual review by the Ontario Review Board.

The accused had made significant progress, maintaining stability, medication compliance, and abstinence from substances while transitioning to community living.

The Board applied the Winko test and found that while the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, the risk could be appropriately managed with a Conditional Discharge.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge with specific terms, including provisions for immediate return to the hospital if his mental state deteriorates.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and theft.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, polysubstance use disorder, and antisocial personality disorder, was residing in the community under a detention order.

The Board found that the accused lacks insight into his mental illness, the need for treatment, and the gravity of his index offences.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order with discretionary community living privileges.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for firearms and mischief offences.

The accused, diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, had remained clinically stable, abstained from substances, and engaged in therapeutic programming over the past year.

However, relying on the hospital psychiatrist's evidence and a joint submission from counsel, the Board found the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to his vulnerability to stressors and limited insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with expanded community pass privileges.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and failing to comply with probation.

The accused had been living in the community with minimal supports, maintaining employment, and remaining abstinent from substances while compliant with his schizophrenia medication.

The treatment team, supported by a joint submission from all parties, recommended an absolute discharge.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board found that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to the safety of the public and granted an absolute discharge.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for a mandatory review hearing.

The hospital, the accused, and the Attorney General jointly recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board found that the accused had demonstrated sustained clinical stability, remained compliant with treatment for schizophrenia, and no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Board granted an absolute discharge.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for various weapons offences, was conditionally discharged but subsequently readmitted to the hospital on two occasions due to substance use and psychiatric decompensation.

The Ontario Review Board convened a hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code to review the resulting restrictions of liberty.

Accepting the joint submission of the parties and the unchallenged medical evidence, the Board found that both readmissions were necessary and appropriate to manage the accused's risk to public safety.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, underwent an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

While conceding he remained a significant threat to public safety, the accused requested an amendment to his detention order to permit cannabis use, arguing it did not impact his mental health.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that cannabis use risks psychotic relapse and violence in individuals with a history of substance-induced psychosis, the Board rejected the request.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat and ordered his continued detention under the existing strict conditions, including a prohibition on cannabis use.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review of the accused's disposition.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for forceable entry, has schizophrenia and continues to experience fixed delusional beliefs, including that he is God.

He lacks insight into his illness and stated he would stop taking medication if granted an absolute discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order, with an amendment requiring the accused to report to the hospital at least four times per month when living in the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, who suffers from a seizure disorder and postictal psychosis, was detained at a forensic psychiatry program.

All parties agreed the accused remained a significant threat to public safety.

The Board considered whether to add a community living term to the detention order.

Applying the framework from Simonic, the Board found that granting community living privileges would serve a therapeutic purpose, motivate the accused's progress, and prevent waitlist prejudice.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with amended terms permitting community living in supervised accommodation.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's conditional discharge following a finding of not criminally responsible for robbery.

The accused, diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder, had an exceptional year of psychiatric stability and abstinence while living in the community.

However, the Board accepted the hospital's recommendation that the accused requires additional time under reduced controls before an absolute discharge is appropriate.

The Board found the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with amended, less restrictive terms.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to review the conditional discharge of an accused found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a mild intellectual disability, sought an absolute discharge.

The Hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused's limited insight, residual psychosis, and need for 24-hour support meant he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine the fitness of the accused to stand trial on multiple charges, including threatening death and possession of a weapon.

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia, was previously found unfit and placed on a treatment order.

Relying on expert psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded that the accused lacked a reality-based understanding of the proceedings and the ability to meaningfully communicate with counsel.

The Board found the accused unfit to stand trial and issued a detention order with conditions at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.