G. Beasley

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences due to schizophrenia.

The hospital and Crown argued the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and sought a Detention Order or continuation of the Conditional Discharge, while the accused sought an Absolute Discharge.

The Board found that despite a stable year in the community, the accused's profound lack of insight into his illness and the likelihood of medication non-compliance and rapid decompensation meant he remained a significant threat.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge, removing only the urinalysis condition.

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

The accused has diagnoses of Bipolar 1 Disorder and Substance Use Disorder.

The hospital's most responsible physician testified that while the accused is doing very well and is fully compliant with medication, she continues to represent a significant threat to public safety if the support of the treatment team were suddenly removed before a transition to a civil mental health team is established.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault and failing to comply with probation.

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and an intellectual developmental disorder.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that the accused has no reality-based understanding of the proceedings and poses a significant threat to public safety, the Board unanimously found the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order without amendment.

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

The accused had been living in the community but experienced a brief readmission to the hospital due to substance use and subtle decompensation.

The hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the detention order, arguing the Mental Health Act was insufficient to ensure timely readmission if his mental state deteriorated.

The Board found the accused remained a significant threat to public safety but concluded a conditional discharge was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

Relying on recent appellate jurisprudence, the Board imposed a conditional discharge with a modified 'Young clause' requiring the accused to attend and submit to hospital admission upon direction, enforceable under the Criminal Code.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and other offences.

At his initial hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the Board found that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board ordered a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with a provision allowing community living in approved accommodation, in accordance with the joint submission of the parties.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to experience paranoia and cognitive deficits.

The hospital recommended continuing the detention order with community living privileges, while removing the abstinence clause.

The Crown and Amicus supported this recommendation.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the detention order with the recommended amendments, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of criminal harassment and assaulting a peace officer.

Based on the uncontradicted psychiatric evidence and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to significant and likely permanent cognitive impairment.

The Board also concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The existing detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health was continued without amendment.

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

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder and autism spectrum disorder, did not attend the hearing.

Based on a joint submission and evidence from the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with a modification to reduce reporting to no less than once per month.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the conditional discharge of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The treating psychiatrist testified that while the accused's mental state is currently stable on anti-psychotic medication, he lacks insight into his illness, continues to use cannabis, and would likely decompensate and pose a risk of violence if granted an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted this evidence, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge.

The accused was charged with assault causing bodily harm and previously found unfit to stand trial.

At her initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the Board considered whether she had become fit.

Relying on the evidence of her treating psychiatrist and the accused's own testimony, the Board found she remained actively psychotic with complex delusions, including the belief that she is a 'Crown Empress' immune from prosecution.

Applying the Supreme Court's test in Bharwani, the Board concluded her delusions prevented a reality-based understanding of the proceedings.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial and a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health was issued to manage her risk and provide ongoing treatment.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and other offences.

The accused had been living in the community, maintained medication compliance, abstained from substances, and developed good insight into his schizoaffective disorder.

Based on the hospital's evidence and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused no longer poses a significant threat to public safety and granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder due to a substance-induced psychotic episode.

The Board considered expert evidence indicating the accused had recently relapsed into substance use, though without psychotic symptoms.

Applying the factors under s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code, the Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with an added condition permitting attendance at an approved residential treatment program.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for various offences including robbery with a weapon, was subject to an annual review and a Restriction of Liberty (ROL) hearing.

After a period of residing in the community, the accused's mental status decompensated following a reduction in antipsychotic medication and a return to substance use, leading to her readmission to the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board found that the readmission was warranted and the least restrictive option available.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of her Detention Order, with the addition of a clause requiring her to abstain from alcohol and other substances.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The hospital recommended continuing the detention order but increasing community passes to seven days, despite recent positive urine drug screens for methamphetamines.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorder.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with the recommended seven-day passes, adding a condition that the accused must return to the hospital for urine drug screening upon request.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges of an indecent act and failing to comply with probation.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing.

Based on the evidence of the attending psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused lacks a reality-based understanding of the court process due to schizoaffective disorder and remains unfit to stand trial.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with gradual privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and restrictive disposition necessary to protect the public while providing treatment.

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

The accused, diagnosed with delusional disorder, had recently transitioned to supported community living and was making positive progress.

However, he continued to have limited insight into his illness and residual delusional beliefs.

Applying the Winko test, the Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order without amendment.

The Hospital requested an early hearing before the Ontario Review Board to modify the privileges of an accused found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a conveyance.

The Hospital recommended adding international travel privileges and removing the driving prohibition from the Disposition.

The Board denied the international travel request, finding more time was needed to assess the accused's stability given his history of cannabis use and bipolar disorder.

However, the Board granted the removal of the driving prohibition, accepting expert evidence that the accused's risk of driving while manic could be managed without the prohibition and that driving was necessary for his employment and childcare responsibilities.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various violent offences.

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

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his treatment-resistant major mental illness, history of serious violence, and impulsivity.

Although the accused was ready for discharge to appropriate housing, no such housing was currently available.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with privileges up to and including residence in the community in accommodation approved by the person in charge.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault after stabbing another patient at a hospital.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his major mental illness, history of substance use, and minimal insight into his need for treatment.

The Board ordered a detention order at the hospital's forensic service with privileges and conditions, including a prohibition on contacting the victim.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and substance use disorders, was subject to a detention order at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of symptom exacerbation linked to substance use or medication non-adherence.

Accepting a joint submission, the Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, amended to allow for 72-hour community passes to facilitate transition to community housing.