K. Hand

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

The hospital recommended transferring the accused from a high secure to a medium secure facility.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted medical evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but has stabilized on medication.

The Board ordered the transfer to the medium secure facility with strict conditions, including a requirement to notify the victims if the accused goes AWOL.

The hospital requested an early review of the accused's disposition, recommending a transfer to a less secure facility.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences, had been detained in a high-secure forensic program.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizophrenia, history of substance abuse, and limited insight.

However, noting his recent progress and increased insight, the Board ordered a transfer to a less secure facility with discretionary privileges, subject to strict conditions including substance abstinence and close monitoring.

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

The accused, diagnosed with treatment-refractory schizophrenia, continued to experience psychotic symptoms, hoard sharp objects, and exhibit sexually inappropriate behaviour.

The Board found that the accused remained a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered his continued detention in the High Secure Provincial Forensic Program at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for break and enter and escaping lawful custody.

The accused requested indirectly supervised community privileges.

The hospital and the Crown opposed the request, citing the accused's impulsivity, substance use history, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a continuation of the detention disposition without the requested privileges, noting that granting them would be premature and could destabilize his progress.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine whether the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on multiple violent charges, remains unfit.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused's delusions prevent him from applying the legal process to himself.

The Board found the accused remains unfit to stand trial and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to schizophrenia, substance use, and medication noncompliance.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at a high secure forensic hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on a charge of sexual assault.

The accused has diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder and substance-induced major neurocognitive disorder.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused remains unable to meaningfully participate in court proceedings due to cognitive impairments.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, particularly given his vulnerability to psychotic relapse when using cannabis.

The Board ordered the continuation of the accused's detention order at the hospital with discretionary community privileges.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and assault, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual disposition hearing.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing his detention at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, while his counsel requested an independent assessment, arguing a treatment impasse had been reached due to his prolonged seclusion.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-resistant schizophrenia, command hallucinations, and history of violence.

The Board concluded there was no treatment impasse, as the hospital continued to explore medication optimization, and ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge with increased reporting requirements due to the accused's recent substance use.

The accused agreed with this recommendation.

The Board accepted the joint position, finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the modified conditions.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of the accused's liberty after he was admitted to the hospital as an inpatient due to substance use, worsening mental state, and severe tremors.

The hospital sought to adjust his medication and administer electroconvulsive therapy in a controlled environment.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and the least onerous and least restrictive measure available for the safety of the public.

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

The accused, diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder, had demonstrated significant improvement, consistent treatment engagement, and abstinence from substances.

Relying on the uncontroverted evidence of the hospital's psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The accused was granted an absolute discharge.

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

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and remains in seclusion due to aggressive behaviour.

Based on hospital reports and psychiatric testimony, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the high secure forensic program at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, denying a family request to transfer him to a less secure facility.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a hearing to review the hospital's decision to readmit the accused, who was previously discharged to the community, following a substance use relapse and deteriorating mental state.

The Board found that the readmission constituted a significant restriction of liberty but was reasonable and warranted.

However, the Board noted that the accused's initial one-month placement in a non-forensic unit, due to a bed shortage, did not meet the least onerous and least restrictive test.

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

The primary issue was whether the accused should be transferred to another institution under Rule 13.

Based on evidence of the accused's cognitive improvements and medication compliance, and with the agreement of all parties, the Board ordered a transfer to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton while maintaining the current disposition.

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

The accused remains treatment refractory, symptomatic, and unpredictable, requiring continued detention in a high secure program.

The Board accepted a joint submission to maintain the current disposition, with the sole modification of lifting the non-contact provisions regarding the accused's mother and grandmother.

The Ontario Review Board held an early review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for mischief and assault charges due to schizophrenia.

The hospital requested the early review, noting the accused's stability and compliance with long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication.

All parties supported an absolute discharge.

The Board applied the Winko test and found that the accused no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public, citing his treatment compliance, mental stability, insight, and successful community living.

An absolute discharge was ordered.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault with a weapon and aggravated assault.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing to determine fitness and the appropriate disposition.

Applying the Taylor and Bharwani tests, the Board found the accused remained unfit to stand trial due to an inability to understand the proceedings or meaningfully instruct counsel.

Given the accused's psychotic illness and the serious nature of the index offences, the Board ordered a detention disposition with a weapons prohibition and a no contact order to manage the risk to public safety.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for violent offences including aggravated assault and attempt murder.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to schizophrenia, cannabis use disorder, and antisocial personality traits.

The Board ordered a detention disposition at the hospital, declining to specify a unit but restricting any future community living placement to 24/7 supervised accommodation approved by the person in charge.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault and other offences, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The hospital and Crown recommended maintaining the current detention disposition, while the accused sought a conditional discharge with community living.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, noting his lack of insight, ongoing delusions, and refusal to engage in substance abuse therapy.

The Board concluded that a conditional discharge was not realistic and ordered that the accused remain detained in a hospital setting.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to determine the fitness of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of assault and failure to comply with a probation order.

The accused suffers from severe schizophrenia and has a history of extreme violence.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused remains psychotic, paranoid, and unfit to stand trial, as his condition would impair his ability to instruct counsel and participate in a trial.

The Board ordered continued detention at the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of liberty of an accused who had been found not criminally responsible for attempted murder.

The accused was placed in seclusion after attempting to assault a staff member at the psychiatric hospital.

The Board applied the Campbell framework and found that the accused's liberty norm was level C2 privileges, and the seclusion represented a significant increase in restriction.

The Board concluded that the restriction was necessary and appropriate to protect the safety of co-patients and staff, and that the hospital had imposed the least restrictive conditions possible by providing regular seclusion relief and a step-wise de-restraint process.