K. Hand

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, arson, aggravated assault, and mischief.

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, had recently been transferred back to a high-secure unit after refusing medication and exhibiting threatening behaviour.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a continued detention disposition at the maximum-secure forensic hospital, denying the accused's request for a transfer to a less secure facility.

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.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to correct an oversight in the accused's previous disposition.

The accused had been found unfit to stand trial and was ordered transferred to a different hospital.

The previous disposition erroneously awarded him indirectly supervised hospital and grounds privileges at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, which do not exist at that facility.

On consent of all parties, the Board ordered the deletion of the erroneous paragraph, leaving the rest of the disposition intact.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault and failing to comply with probation.

At his initial appearance before the Ontario Review Board, the hospital and Crown took the position that he remained unfit, while his counsel took no position.

The Board observed the accused's florid presentation and constant interruptions during the hearing.

Relying on the hospital's reports and the accused's presentation, the Board concluded that he remains unable to instruct counsel or participate in a trial, and ordered a disposition in accordance with the hospital's recommendations.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for arson and breach of probation.

The hospital and the Attorney General jointly submitted that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety and should receive an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted the expert evidence that the accused's mental status remained stable despite his use of legal substances, and that his risk to the public was low.

Finding that the significant threat threshold was not met, the Board granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for endangering life and arson.

The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused is clinically stable, compliant with medication, and has ceased using cocaine.

Finding that the accused no longer represents a significant threat to public safety, the Board granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences including robbery and dangerous driving.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continued to experience psychotic symptoms and violent thoughts, and remained resistant to medication.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted evidence of the hospital's psychiatrist that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention order at the high secure forensic program, with a recommendation for transfer to the Institute of Philippe-Pinel in Quebec.

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

The accused sought a transfer to a less secure hospital.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused requires a longer period of stability, engagement in therapeutic programs, and better management of substance use issues before a transfer can be considered.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant risk to public safety and ordered no change to the current disposition.

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

The accused, who has schizophrenia, experienced a period of seclusion after an unprovoked incident of spitting on co-patients.

The Board applied the Campbell framework and found that the significant increase in the restriction of his liberty was necessary and appropriate.

Accepting the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his current disposition at the high-secure forensic hospital.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to experience auditory hallucinations but has remained stable within the structured hospital environment.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current disposition, detaining the accused at the hospital with escorted grounds privileges.

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

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to a history of violent behaviour, poor impulse control, and limited insight.

However, noting recent behavioural improvements, the Board ordered the accused transferred from a secure forensic program to a less secure all-male unit to facilitate rehabilitation and address inappropriate sexual impulses.

The disposition included conditions such as a weapons prohibition.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for the accused, who was found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, attacked a family member with a knife.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to ongoing psychotic symptoms and an inability to instruct counsel.

The Board ordered the accused to be detained at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care with specific privileges, finding that his risk could not be managed in a less secure facility.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, is detained at a high-secure forensic hospital.

Based on a joint submission and psychiatric evidence indicating ongoing significant threat, the Board concluded that the current disposition and its terms continue to be appropriate to manage the risk.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for forcible entry, mischief, and assaulting a peace officer.

The accused has schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorders.

Despite maintaining community housing, the accused recently relapsed into alcohol and cocaine use, requiring hospital readmission.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties and the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for uttering a threat to damage property.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, experiences significant anxiety regarding community living and fears re-offending.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted evidence of the hospital's doctor that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition with existing conditions and a 24-month review period, encouraging the hospital to provide spiritual support and relapse prevention programming.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and threatening to use a weapon.

The accused, who suffers from a severe traumatic brain injury, resides at a secure hospital and participates in vocational programs.

All parties agreed that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that the current disposition remains appropriate.

The Board added a weapons prohibition to the disposition, noting it would not impact his current vocational activities but would be relevant if he were transferred to a less secure facility or a general hospital.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General submitted that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, which the accused did not contest.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted evidence that the accused's physical health has declined and he requires a high level of support, but continues to display unpredictable aggression.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order while the hospital searches for an appropriate long-term care placement.

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

The accused sought a transfer to a less secure facility.

The treating psychiatrist opposed the transfer, citing the recency of the accused's improvements on new medication and the need for ongoing support.

The Board found that the accused had shown remarkable progress and, given the lengthy waitlist for a transfer, ordered the transfer to CAMH with the current conditions remaining in place.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and breaching a recognizance.

The Hospital and the Attorney General recommended maintaining the current detention disposition at a high secure forensic facility, citing the accused's ongoing aggressive and sexually inappropriate behaviours.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted evidence of the forensic fellow that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and requires the structure of a high secure setting.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition with the existing privileges and conditions.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including uttering threats and assaulting a peace officer.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder.

Based on the psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded that the accused remains unfit to stand trial, is likely permanently unfit, and continues to pose a significant risk to public safety.

The current Disposition and its terms were maintained.