D. D’Intino

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and other offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, was residing in the community under a Conditional Discharge Disposition.

The Board found that while his schizophrenia was well-controlled by medication, his ongoing cocaine use posed a risk of decompensation.

Concluding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, the Board ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge with no changes to the conditions.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and a severe cannabis use disorder.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a detention order, while the accused sought a conditional discharge.

The Board accepted expert evidence that the accused was taking a sub-optimal dose of antipsychotic medication and lacked insight into his illness.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a detention disposition with conditions, including a no-contact order with the victims.

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

The accused's diagnoses include schizoaffective disorder and cannabis use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, supported by psychiatric evidence, that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and requires supportive housing.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order with privileges up to and including community living in accommodation approved by the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his diagnoses of Schizophrenia, Polysubstance Use Disorder, and Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Adopting a joint recommendation, the Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the hospital but varied the disposition to permit the monitored consumption of cannabis purchased from a legal dispensary.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing and a Restriction of Liberty hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences, including assault and criminal harassment.

The accused, diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, had been readmitted to the hospital due to a severe manic episode despite adherence to medication.

The Board found the Restriction of Liberty was justified and ordered that the current Disposition of a Detention Order be maintained, with the modification that reporting be increased to once a week.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for possession of a firearm and mischief.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to treatment-resistant schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board ordered a continuation of the detention order with added privileges, including the ability to reside in the community in approved accommodations and exercise passes for up to seven days.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review a significant increase in the restriction of the accused's liberty following his readmission to the hospital.

The accused, who has schizophrenia, requested readmission due to delusions of being sexually assaulted, which were attributed to inadequate antipsychotic treatment and medication non-compliance.

The Board found that the initial and ongoing restrictions of liberty were necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive option available to manage the increased risk presented by the accused.

The Ontario Review Board convened a hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code to review the hospital's decision to restrict the accused's privileges following a psychotic deterioration and aggressive behaviour.

The accused, who had been found NCR for assaulting a peace officer, agreed with the hospital's position.

The Board found that the removal of privileges was warranted and that the gradual return to his baseline liberty norm of 30-minute indirectly supervised passes was the least onerous and least restrictive decision available.

The Ontario Review Board held a Restriction of Liberty hearing after the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible and discharged to live in the community, was returned to the hospital.

The accused had been involved in a motor vehicle accident, fled the scene, and subsequently experienced suicidal ideation and mood changes.

The hospital readmitted him to stabilize his condition.

All parties agreed that the hospital's decision to return the accused to the hospital was warranted and represented the least onerous and least restrictive option available.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation and found no basis to issue a new Disposition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and forcible confinement.

The accused sought a conditional discharge to reside with his parents, while the hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the detention order.

The Board accepted expert evidence that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing symptoms of schizophrenia, substance use risk, lack of insight, and recent aggressive behaviour in the hospital.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, finding that a conditional discharge would not adequately manage the risk to the public.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for robbery and other offences.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, while the hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the existing detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his lack of insight into his schizoaffective disorder, history of medication non-compliance, and ongoing struggles with substance abuse.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with the addition of a weapons prohibition.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review a restriction of liberty imposed on the accused, who is detained at a forensic mental health hospital.

The hospital had reduced the accused's privileges to zero after discovering contraband substances and drug paraphernalia in his room, following an incident where multiple patients consumed crystal methamphetamine.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence, including testimony that the accused had a history of substance abuse linked to psychosis and criminal behaviour, and possessed only superficial insight into his condition.

The Board concluded that the restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive option available to manage the accused's risk.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review a significant increase in the restriction of the accused's liberty after he was placed in seclusion for 14 days following an unprovoked assault on a co-patient.

The Board applied the Campbell framework and found that the seclusion constituted a significant increase in the restriction of liberty.

However, the Board concluded that the hospital's actions were reasonable, warranted, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive course of action available to manage the heightened risk posed by the accused's mental decompensation and aggressive behaviour.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for charges including criminal harassment, assault with a weapon, and break and enter.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine disposition.

Accepting a joint submission, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

The Board ordered a Detention Order at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre with privileges up to community living, including a non-communication order with the victim.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, appeared for an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The Board found that the accused, who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia in partial remission, continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public.

While the accused has made positive progress in rehabilitation and is collaborating with his treatment team, he continues to experience residual symptoms.

The Board ordered the continuation of a detention order with privileges for community living in approved accommodation, adding travel passes and the ability to drive with prior hospital approval.

The Ontario Review Board held a restriction of liberty hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and mischief.

The accused, who has bipolar disorder, was readmitted to the hospital after becoming medication non-compliant in the community, leading to rapid mental decompensation and confrontational behaviour.

The Board found that both the initial and ongoing restrictions of the accused's liberty were necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive options available to manage the risk to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences, including assault with a weapon and robbery.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance abuse disorder, had a history of fluctuating medication compliance and recent incidents of self-harm and rule violations.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public due to the risk of decompensation if medication is discontinued.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order Disposition with community living privileges in an accommodation approved by the hospital.