L.O. Lightfoot

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

The accused had remained stable in a high-secure forensic facility, complying with treatment and developing insight into his bipolar disorder and substance use issues.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his history of rapid decompensation and severe violence when unwell.

However, accepting the joint position of the parties and the uncontroverted medical evidence, the Board ordered the accused transferred to a medium-secure setting at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences with privileges including indirectly supervised community passes.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and breaching probation.

The hospital and the Crown recommended continuing his detention at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, a position the accused ultimately conceded.

Relying on the hospital report and the uncontroverted expert testimony of Dr. Mishra, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-refractory schizophrenia, acquired brain injury, and intellectual disability.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an early annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and breach of recognizance.

The accused, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, had been living in the community on a conditional discharge but experienced a severe decompensation following the death of his mentor.

This led to involuntary hospitalization, psychotic symptoms, and assaultive behaviour towards peers and staff.

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

The conditional discharge was rescinded and replaced with a detention order, with conditions allowing for future community living once his mental state stabilizes.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault, robbery, and sexual interference.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had an unauthorized leave of absence during the reporting year and exhibited periods of mutism, though he generally complied with hospital rules and medication.

Based on uncontested psychiatric evidence and a joint submission, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to limited insight and risk of decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of his Detention Order.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was found unfit to stand trial in 2009 on charges of assault and weapons offences.

The Board determined that the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial due to an intellectual disability and schizophrenia.

Finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, the Board ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge, emphasizing the necessity of 24-hour supervised housing to manage his risk of violence.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, experienced a recent exacerbation of psychotic symptoms and remains treatment resistant.

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

On joint submission, the Board ordered the continuation of her detention at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with a modification to her privileges allowing the person in charge to permit travel both inside and outside of Canada.

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

The accused sought an absolute discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, history of medication non-compliance, substance use, and limited insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with existing conditions, including residence at a supportive housing facility.

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

The accused has been residing in the community under a conditional discharge and has made positive progress, including medication compliance and abstaining from substance use.

However, due to her history of treatment-resistant psychosis, substance use, and vulnerability to stressors, the Board found she continues to represent a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with an updated residential address to support her transition to more independent living.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for two counts of attempted murder.

The accused, diagnosed with major depressive disorder with psychotic features, has been compliant with treatment but faces barriers to community transition due to his unresolved immigration status.

The Board found that he continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his detention at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with privileges including community living.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences due to schizophrenia.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the treating psychiatrist that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly due to his history of absconding and substance use which precipitates psychosis.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault due to schizophrenia, was reviewed by the Ontario Review Board.

The Board proceeded in the accused's absence.

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

The Board ordered that the accused remain detained at the General Forensic Service at CAMH, with privileges up to residing in approved community accommodation, as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and cannabis use disorder, had recently decompensated due to medication nonadherence and exhibited aggressive behaviour towards hospital staff.

Relying on expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and would likely deteriorate further without supervision.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order.

The accused was found not criminally responsible (NCR) on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault.

At his initial Disposition hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the Board found that he remains a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing psychotic symptoms, limited insight into his substance use disorders, and a history of severe violence.

The Board ordered his detention at a secure forensic hospital.

While the hospital recommended indirectly supervised community passes, the Board restricted his privileges to accompanied passes only, finding that indirectly supervised passes were premature given his recent admission and need for further stabilization and assessment.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm after stabbing two family members while experiencing persecutory delusions.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board considered expert psychiatric evidence indicating the accused's ongoing symptoms of schizophrenia, impulsivity, and sexually disinhibited behaviour.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

A Detention Order at the hospital was issued, as community living was deemed premature while his medication regimen is being optimized.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and possession of a prohibited weapon.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorder.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing thought disorganization, unoptimized medication, and vulnerability to substance relapse.

The Board ordered a detention disposition as the least onerous and least restrictive option, granting accompanied passes to the community but denying a request for community living privileges at this time.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder, had been living in the community but was readmitted to the hospital due to environmental aggression and delusions.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing delusions, lack of insight, and risk of medication non-compliance.

The Board ordered a continuation of the detention disposition, finding that a conditional discharge would be insufficient to manage the risk.

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 assault and resisting arrest.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused is permanently unfit to stand trial due to a moderate intellectual disability.

The Board ordered a detention disposition, permitting the accused to live in a 24/7 supervised accommodation approved by the hospital, emphasizing the need for consistent one-to-one staffing to manage her risk of violence and substance use relapse.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for arson, was living in the community subject to a conditional discharge.

Following a relapse into substance use and mental decompensation involving paranoia towards his manager, he was readmitted to the hospital for 10 days.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review this restriction of liberty.

The Board found that the 10-day hospital admission constituted a significant restriction of liberty, but concluded it was necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive and least onerous measure to protect public safety.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for violent offences against her son, underwent an annual Review Board hearing.

The hospital and Crown recommended continuing her Detention Order with increased privileges, while the accused sought a Conditional Discharge to move to Windsor.

Relying on expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to her schizophrenia, cognitive impairments, and vulnerability to stress.

The Board concluded a Detention Order was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage her risk and enforce a no-contact provision with her victim.

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

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused had been stable in a group home but remained a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of rapid decompensation if his declining physical health necessitated a move to long-term care.

The Board accepted this evidence, finding the accused remained a significant threat.

However, the Board concluded that the risk could be safely managed in the community and ordered a conditional discharge with conditions, including a named residence and a consent to treatment clause.