J. Watts

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been compliant with treatment and substance-free in the hospital setting but exhibited stress and hesitation regarding community reintegration.

Relying on the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition, finding it necessary and appropriate to manage the risk of rapid decompensation while supporting gradual community reintegration.

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, previously found not criminally responsible for various offences, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The hospital psychiatrist testified that the accused's psychosis was likely cannabis-induced, that she had been living independently and asymptomatically for 18 months, and that she posed a very low risk.

All parties jointly recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board agreed that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety and granted an absolute discharge.

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 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 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 conducted an annual review of the accused's conditional discharge disposition.

The accused had previously been found not criminally responsible for threatening offences.

The Board heard evidence that the accused's mental health declined when his medication was altered, leading to aggressive behaviours, but stabilized upon resuming treatment.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered that his conditional discharge be continued on the same terms, including 24-hour supervised housing.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual disposition hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assaulting a peace officer.

The accused, diagnosed with treatment-refractory schizophrenia and severe substance use disorders, had recently eloped from the hospital, leading to rapid mental decompensation.

Accepting the uncontroverted evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention disposition with no changes, concluding it was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage the risk.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including criminal harassment and assault.

Relying on the hospital report and uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to intellectual disability and developmental delays.

The Board further concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his detention at the hospital.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for break and enter and assault offences.

The Hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the detention order with the addition of travel passes within Ontario.

The accused sought a conditional discharge.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his history of violence when psychotic and rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition with the addition of travel passes.

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 breach of probation.

The Board considered evidence from the hospital, including psychiatric assessments indicating the accused suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, and experiences ongoing paranoia and delusions.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot appreciate the charges or meaningfully participate in a trial.

The Board also concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his propensity for unprovoked aggression when unwell.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order at the hospital.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for break and enter, assault, and assault with a weapon.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused, who suffers from Schizoaffective Disorder, continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight and recent commencement of medication.

The Board ordered the accused detained at the hospital with limited privileges, including a prohibition on cannabis use, finding he was not yet ready for indirectly supervised community access.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and designated a high-risk accused, appeared for his annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The Board found that he continues to present a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizophrenia, despite improvements in his mental status and adherence to treatment.

The Board ordered the continuation of his current detention disposition without changes to his privileges.

Additionally, on the joint request of the parties, the Board ordered the hospital to arrange a formal risk assessment to assist in determining at the next annual review whether to refer his high-risk accused designation to the Superior Court for review.

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

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for various offences including assault, suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and substance use disorder.

The Board heard evidence from the treating psychiatrist that while the accused has made remarkable progress in managing command hallucinations and improving nutritional intake, he continues to require intensive supervision.

Adopting a joint submission from all parties, the Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and renewed his detention order at the hospital on the same terms and conditions.

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

The accused, diagnosed with Delusional Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder, had transitioned to a supervised community group home and remained compliant with medication, though he lacked insight into his condition.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his persistent delusional beliefs and the risk of decompensation if he resumed cannabis use or stopped medication.

The Board renewed the detention order with a modification to allow approved travel passes.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for the first-degree murder of her infant daughter, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for her first annual review.

The Board found that she continues to present a significant threat to public safety due to her Bipolar I Disorder, though her risk level had decreased following a tubal ligation and stabilization on medication.

Adopting the joint submission of the parties, the Board rescinded a previous order transferring her to another facility and renewed her detention order at the current hospital, emphasizing the need for a gradual, highly supported reintegration into the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had recently been transferred to a new hospital following aggressive incidents.

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused's behaviour had markedly improved following medication adjustments, though he remained a complex, high-needs patient.

Adopting the joint submission of the parties, the Board found that the accused continues to present a significant threat to public safety and ordered his continued detention at the hospital.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges including harassing communications and mischief, stemming from hundreds of unwarranted calls to emergency services.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing.

Based on psychiatric evidence that the accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and intellectual disability, and continues to experience delusions and exhibit aggressive behaviour, the Board concluded she remains unfit to stand trial.

A detention order was issued to keep the public safe while managing her mental condition, with provisions for controlled community access if her condition improves.

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

The accused had made significant progress in treatment, remaining free of substance use and engaging in therapy, and was recently transitioned to a community group home.

All parties jointly submitted that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and recommended continuing the detention order with a minor amendment to the geographic restriction for approved accommodation.

The Board agreed, finding that while the accused had made real progress, ongoing forensic supervision and a detention order were necessary to monitor his transition to community living and ensure public safety.