J. Mills

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

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and substance use disorders, sought a transfer to another hospital and a continuation of his current privileges.

The hospital and the Attorney General opposed the transfer and sought the removal of certain community access privileges.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight, impulsivity, and drug-seeking behaviour.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention order with its current terms, finding them to be the least onerous and restrictive, and denied the transfer request as it offered no therapeutic benefit.

The Ontario Review Board convened to review the restriction of liberties imposed on an accused found not criminally responsible (NCR) for arson.

The hospital had restricted the accused's liberties on two occasions due to ongoing substance use, emotional dysregulation, and a violation of privilege levels.

Applying the Campbell framework, the Board found that the restrictions significantly increased the restriction on the accused's liberty.

However, the Board concluded that the restrictions were necessary, appropriate, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive measures to protect public safety while the accused underwent medication changes.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought to remove the accused's community living privileges and transfer him to another medium secure facility due to a treatment impasse and escalating behaviour towards staff.

The majority of the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered his detention to continue.

However, the majority declined to order a transfer or remove community living privileges, noting the accused's established community supports, housing, and a pending appeal regarding his capacity to consent to treatment.

A dissenting member would have ordered the transfer due to the therapeutic impasse.

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

The accused requested permission to consume alcohol and cannabis, while the hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the detention order with a new provision for 7-day passes.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight into his schizophrenia and substance use issues.

The Board continued the detention order with the requested 7-day pass privileges and denied the accused's request to consume substances.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for a mandatory review of his conditional discharge.

The majority of the Board found that he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizophrenia, narcissistic personality traits, and the risk of decompensation under stress.

The Board maintained his conditional discharge but reduced his reporting requirement to not less than once each month.

A dissenting member would have found that he no longer represents a significant threat and granted an absolute discharge.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and referred to the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition hearing.

The Board found that the accused, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and sedative use disorder, continues to experience perceptual disturbances and lacks community support.

The Board concluded that the accused poses a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered a detention order at the hospital with specific privileges and prohibitions, including abstention from intoxicants and a weapons prohibition.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for break and enter, attempt murder, and kidnapping.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had previously experienced severe religious delusions and attacked a social worker while attempting to kidnap his sister.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but noted significant improvements in his condition, insight, and compliance with treatment.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with expanded privileges, including community living and 7-day passes, and removed the conditions prohibiting alcohol consumption and requiring urine testing.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including break and enter and mischief.

Relying on psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial, likely permanently, due to intellectual disability and severe anxiety that prevent her from understanding court processes.

Balancing the accused's liberty interests with public safety, the Board concluded that she continues to pose a significant threat to the public and ordered the continuation of her detention order at the psychiatric hospital, with provisions for supervised community access.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and paraphilia, continues to experience chronic paranoid delusions, hallucinations, and episodes of agitation despite treatment, including electroconvulsive therapy.

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

Concluding that the current disposition is the least onerous and least restrictive option, the Board ordered the accused's continued detention at the high secure forensic hospital.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and Polysubstance Abuse Disorder, is currently detained at a mental health centre.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to persistent psychotic symptoms, limited insight, and the risk of medication non-compliance if discharged.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order with existing community privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for arson and assault of peace officers with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had shown clinical stability and improvement in a structured hospital setting.

However, the Board found that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his history of violence, untreated psychosis, and the lack of established long-term medication adherence in the community.

The Board concluded that the least onerous and least restrictive disposition is a continuation of the existing detention order, with privileges up to and including living in approved, supervised community accommodations.

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

The accused, diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, continues to experience persistent psychotic symptoms and refuses clozapine or electroconvulsive therapy.

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

Applying the least onerous and least restrictive principle, the Board concluded that continued detention in the high secure forensic program at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care remains the necessary and appropriate disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of sexual assault and assault.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and a traumatic brain injury.

Applying the test from R. v. Bharwani, the Board found the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial as he lacks a basic, reality-based understanding of the proceedings.

Given his ongoing psychotic symptoms, cognitive deficits, and risk of sudden behavioural escalation, the Board concluded he presents a significant threat to public safety and ordered his continued detention at a high-secure forensic hospital.

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

The accused, who suffers from treatment-refractory schizophrenia, was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including arson and assault.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial as his psychotic symptoms prevent him from having a reality-based understanding of the proceedings or communicating with counsel.

However, noting improvements in his behavioural control and impulse management, the Board ordered his transfer from a high-secure forensic hospital to a medium-secure facility, with privileges to access the community accompanied by staff.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for robbery and manslaughter and designated as a high-risk accused.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-refractory schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorders.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at a high-secure facility but amended the disposition to remove absences for 'compassionate' and 'legal' purposes to comply with the restrictions on high-risk accused under s. 672.64(3) of the Criminal Code.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine whether the accused, who had previously been found unfit to stand trial on various property and breach charges, was now fit.

Based on the testimony of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused's mental state had stabilized with medication and abstinence from substances, giving her a reality-based understanding of the proceedings and the ability to instruct counsel.

The Board declared the accused fit to stand trial and issued a keep fit order to ensure she remains in hospital to maintain her fitness until her court appearance.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine whether the accused, previously found unfit to stand trial on multiple assault charges, remained unfit.

Relying on the testimony of the treating psychiatrist and the framework established in R. v. Bharwani, the Board concluded that the accused now has a reality-based understanding of the charges and court process.

The Board found the accused fit to stand trial and ordered his return to court.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for a mandatory review of his disposition.

He was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including criminal harassment and uttering threats.

Applying the fitness test from R. v. Bharwani, the Board found that the accused's ongoing delusions and thought disorder prevented him from making reality-based decisions or communicating effectively with counsel.

The Board concluded he remains unfit to stand trial and poses a significant threat to public safety.

His detention order at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care was maintained, with expanded community pass privileges and a non-communication order regarding the complainants, pending his transfer to CAMH.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for firearms and threat offences.

The accused, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and cannabis use disorder, had been living in the community under a detention order.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused's pattern of decompensation is unknown and that he would likely not seek voluntary admission if his mental state deteriorated.

Finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety, the Board maintained the detention order to ensure the treatment team's ability to admit him expeditiously if needed, while granting new privileges for out-of-province travel to visit family.

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

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

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizoaffective disorder and vulnerability to substance use when unwell.

However, noting his stability and progress in a highly structured environment, the Board ordered his transfer from a maximum secure facility to the general forensic program at Ontario Shores.