J. Cheston

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for uttering death threats.

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and experiences pervasive bizarre and grandiose delusions.

While the accused has not engaged in physical violence since 2008, he has a history of threatening behaviour and lacks insight into his illness.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

However, noting his successful transition to permanent supportive housing and compliance with long-acting injectable medication, the Board ordered a Conditional Discharge subject to conditions including a residency requirement and abstinence from non-medical intoxicants other than cannabis.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with ultra-treatment resistant schizophrenia, had been residing in the community under a Conditional Discharge.

The Board accepted expert evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight and the high risk of decompensation and violence if he were to discontinue his medication.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge with a treatment condition, but declined to impose a weapons prohibition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review hearing.

The hospital and the Crown sought a continuation of his Conditional Discharge Disposition, while the accused sought an Absolute Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to suffer from schizophrenia with residual religious delusions and lacks insight into his illness.

Relying on the evidence of his attending psychiatrist and family concerns regarding medication non-compliance, the Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge Disposition with no changes to its terms.

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

The accused sought a conditional discharge, while the Hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing substance use, lack of insight, and the need for 24/7 supportive housing.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused is currently detained at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

All parties agreed that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his diagnoses of schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, as well as his history of violence and non-compliance.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order with privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to protect the public while supporting his reintegration.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for violent offences, was subject to a conditional discharge.

Following the removal of an abstinence clause, he resumed consuming large amounts of cannabis and alcohol, leading to decompensation, paranoid delusions, and sexually inappropriate behaviour.

He voluntarily returned to the hospital.

The hospital and Crown sought a detention order with an abstinence clause, while the accused sought to maintain the conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that a conditional discharge is insufficient to manage his risk.

The Board ordered a detention order with conditions including absolute abstinence from alcohol and cannabis.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review.

The Board found that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his brittle psychotic illness, lack of insight, and history of medication noncompliance.

Despite a positive year and adherence to medication, the Board concluded a detention order remains necessary to manage the stressors of his return to university and to ensure the hospital can approve his residence and intervene quickly if his mental health deteriorates.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing under s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and forcible confinement.

The accused had been abstinent from cannabis, which was a major trigger for his psychosis, and was living safely in the community with his family.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to diagnostic uncertainty and the recency of his transfer to a new treatment team.

However, the Board concluded that a conditional discharge was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for manslaughter.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and schizoid personality disorder.

However, noting his significant progress, medication compliance, and successful transition to a supervised group home, the Board accepted a joint submission for a Conditional Discharge.

The disposition includes conditions that he reside in a private room in supervised supportive housing associated with Durham Mental Health Services.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault and breach of probation.

The accused is diagnosed with schizophrenia, cannabis use disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.

Despite making steady progress with treatment and remaining compliant with medication, the accused incurred new criminal charges involving an imitation firearm while at a group home.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused would pose a very high risk for physical violence if he stopped his medication and resumed substance use.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of liberty and disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder.

The accused had been living in the community but was readmitted to the hospital after stopping his antipsychotic medication, experiencing psychotic symptoms, and being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the readmission was necessary to manage his risk.

The Board found that the restriction of liberty was appropriate and that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The existing disposition was continued without a driving prohibition clause.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been living in the community under a Detention Disposition.

The Board found that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his brittle psychiatric illness and history of violence.

However, noting his medication compliance and stability in a highly supported complex care home, the Board ordered a Conditional Discharge with strict conditions, including a specific residency requirement at his current supportive housing facility.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, has schizophrenia and recently transitioned to a supervised group home in the community.

Based on the hospital's evidence and the joint position of the parties, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition to ensure the hospital maintains the ability to approve accommodation and manage the accused's risk.

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

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation causing death, requested the removal of a substance prohibition clause from his disposition.

The Board accepted the hospital's psychiatric evidence that the accused's complex neurological and psychiatric diagnoses made him highly vulnerable to destabilization from substance use.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the substance prohibition clause intact.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an accused found unfit to stand trial on charges including sexual assault and assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, who suffers from an anoxic brain injury and antisocial personality disorder, has a history of unpredictable and sexually inappropriate behaviour towards female hospital staff.

The Board found the accused remains unfit to stand trial.

The Board ordered his continued detention at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and rejected the hospital's recommendation to transfer him to Ontario Shores, concluding that his behaviour poses an unacceptable risk to female patients and staff at a coed facility.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and assault causing bodily harm due to schizoaffective disorder.

The treating psychiatrist testified that the accused is currently symptom-free, compliant with medication, and has strong community support.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that while the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, his risk can be adequately managed in the community.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault and uttering threats.

Applying the fitness test from R v Bharwani, the Board concluded the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to persistent delusions and lack of insight into his schizophrenia.

However, the Board found he is not permanently unfit, as he has shown some improvement and could potentially become fit with further treatment.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at a high-secure forensic psychiatric facility to manage his significant threat to public safety.

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

The accused has schizophrenia and substance use disorders but has made significant progress living in the community under a detention disposition.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to residual cognitive deficits, impulsivity, and limited insight into his need for ongoing psychiatric supervision.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition, concluding that a conditional discharge would remove necessary risk management structures.

The hospital requested an early Ontario Review Board hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm, due to his escalating substance use and suspected medication non-compliance while living in the community.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and multiple substance use disorders, agreed with the hospital and the Attorney General that he remained a significant threat to public safety.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence that the accused's risk of violence increases with substance use and that the Mental Health Act is insufficient to manage this risk, the Board accepted the joint submission.

The Board revoked the conditional discharge and imposed a detention order with an abstinence clause to ensure continuous monitoring and timely intervention.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had been living in the community under a conditional discharge.

Based on a joint submission and uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, as his stability relies heavily on the structure of the forensic system.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with slightly relaxed reporting conditions to support his gradual reintegration.