C. Murray

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

The hospital recommended continuing a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, but with the addition of indirectly supervised community passes and a provision for community living in supervised accommodation.

The Attorney General opposed the community living provision.

Applying the Court of Appeal's decision in Re Simonic, the Board granted the hospital's requested privileges, noting that a community living clause allows the accused to be placed on a waitlist for appropriate supervised accommodation.

The detention order was continued with the new privileges and no-contact provisions.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an initial disposition hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for telecommunication with a person under 16 years.

The Board accepted the risk assessment evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to schizoaffective disorder and lack of insight.

Following a joint recommendation, the Board ordered a conditional discharge with terms including residence at the family home, reporting requirements, and a prohibition on contacting the victim.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found unfit to stand trial on a murder charge due to treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

The Board found the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot meaningfully participate or understand the proceedings.

The Board ordered continued detention on a Forensic Service unit, declining to add a community living clause as it was premature given the accused's need for intensive staff support and lack of readiness for indirect privileges.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and severe substance use disorders, had a history of violent behaviour and frequent relapses into illicit substance use while detained at the hospital.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his mental illness, substance use, and lack of insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of his Detention Disposition, with an added term allowing him to attend a residential treatment program for up to three months to address his addiction challenges.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review of the accused's conditional discharge.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, has treatment-resistant schizophrenia but has remained stable and symptom-free on medication.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety but, relying on the joint position of the parties and psychiatric evidence, ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with relaxed conditions, including reduced reporting frequency and the removal of residence and consent to treatment clauses.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code to review the hospital's decision to readmit the accused, who had previously been discharged to the community.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for arson, experienced a rapid decompensation in her mental status due to medication non-compliance and the stress of transition.

All parties jointly submitted that the readmission was necessary and appropriate.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the readmission and ongoing detention were the least restrictive alternatives available to the treatment team.

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

The accused, diagnosed with chronic paranoid schizophrenia, has remained stable in the community but lacks insight into his illness and the need for medication.

The treating psychiatrist testified that the accused would stop taking medication if not subject to a Board order, which would likely lead to decompensation and a return of psychotic symptoms.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his Conditional Discharge with no changes to its terms.

Jason Bakker, previously found not criminally responsible for assault, underwent an annual review of his disposition by the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and Crown sought a continuation of his detention order, while the accused requested an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, lacks insight, and has a history of medication non-compliance and violence.

The Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the detention order to ensure adequate supervision and risk management.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for arson, was subject to an annual review of his conditional discharge.

The hospital initially recommended an absolute discharge but changed its position after learning the accused intended to use cannabis and had already begun doing so covertly.

The Review Board found that the accused's change in intention regarding substance use, combined with his history of psychosis and the potential for paranoia, meant he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with amendments to allow the treatment team to monitor his risk.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault due to schizophrenia.

The accused was residing in the community on a conditional discharge.

The treatment team and all parties agreed that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, particularly because she is 'quietly psychotic' and has stated she would stop taking her medication if granted an absolute discharge.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current conditional discharge without amendment.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual disposition hearing for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on two charges of assault.

The accused's attending psychiatrist testified that she continues to lack insight into her charges and remains unfit to stand trial, though she has been successfully residing in the community with support.

The Board unanimously accepted the uncontroverted medical opinion, finding the accused remains unfit to stand trial, and ordered the continuation of her current disposition without amendment.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following multiple findings of not criminally responsible for violent offences.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and susceptibility to stress-induced psychosis.

The Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital with privileges for community living in 24-hour supervised accommodation.

The Board also removed a mandatory random drug testing clause from the disposition and declined to impose a no-contact order regarding children.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been detained at Ontario Shores.

The treatment team, Crown, and defence jointly submitted that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety but recommended a lateral outpatient transfer to CAMH once suitable community housing is found.

The Board accepted the joint submission, noting the accused's significant rehabilitation progress and strong family support, and ordered the transfer to facilitate community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to significantly restrict the accused's liberty by placing him in seclusion.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and a history of violence, was placed in seclusion after becoming hostile, unresponsive to staff direction, and refusing his antipsychotic medication.

The Board applied the framework from Regina v. M.L.C. and found that both the initial placement in seclusion and the ongoing restriction of liberty were warranted, necessary, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive intervention available to safely manage his risk of harm to others.

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

The accused sought the removal of alcohol and cannabis prohibitions from his disposition.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that substance use would likely cause a relapse of psychotic symptoms and violent behaviour, the Board ordered continued detention on a General Forensic Unit with the alcohol and cannabis prohibitions maintained.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's disposition.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for offences including criminal negligence causing death, suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to experience symptoms, lacks insight, and poses a moderate risk of violent reoffending.

The Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his detention within the forensic program.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder and appeared for his initial hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and Crown recommended a detention order with conditions, noting the accused's bipolar disorder, history of medication non-compliance, and the serious nature of the index offence.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered his continued detention at the hospital with modified conditions, including strict reporting requirements and a geographic restriction.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, remained guarded and treatment-resistant, with a history of violence when acutely unwell.

Accepting the joint submission of the parties and the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

A Detention Order within the secure forensic program was maintained to allow for medication optimization and gradual transition to a general unit.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for a young person previously found unfit to stand trial on sexual assault charges.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and the medical evidence that the accused remains unfit to stand trial, though not permanently unfit.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with the same terms as the previous year, noting the accused's significant progress and medication compliance.

The Ontario Review Board convened an early hearing to review the Disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for various offences.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had a history of non-compliance and ULOAs but recently showed stabilization and appropriate use of passes.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and the attending psychiatrist, finding that while the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, his risk can be managed.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with the addition of a discretionary privilege to live in supervised community housing.