M. Hajek

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for multiple assaults, was subject to an annual review by the Ontario Review Board.

The accused requested international travel privileges to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The hospital and the Attorney General opposed the request, citing the accused's recent behavioural dysregulation, inability to successfully complete overnight passes, and reliance on family members who struggled to enforce hospital rules and medication compliance.

The Board found that the accused continues to present a significant threat to public safety and concluded that international travel was premature.

The detention order was renewed on the existing terms.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible, was living in an approved group home but left without permission.

Due to a lack of available beds in less secure units, the hospital admitted him to a secure forensic assessment unit and denied him all privileges based on a blanket hospital policy.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine if this restriction of liberty was justified.

The Board found that while the initial admission was justified due to the lack of housing, the ongoing denial of privileges based on a rigid policy rather than an individualized assessment was an unjustified restriction of liberty.

The Board ordered the hospital to transfer the accused to a unit where he could access his privileges.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon.

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and experiences persistent paranoid delusions about her stepfather, making her family home an unsafe environment.

Despite clinical stability, she refuses therapeutic programming and has housing arrears preventing independent placement.

The Board found she remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of her Detention Order with the deletion of one condition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a hearing to review a Restriction of Liberty (ROL) imposed on the accused, who was detained at a psychiatric hospital.

The accused had experienced a decompensation in his mental status, leading to unprovoked assaults on co-patients and placement in seclusion.

The hospital subsequently transferred him to a Secure Observation and Treatment Unit (SOTU) and administered electroconvulsive therapy.

The Board found that the ROL commenced on April 20, 2025, and ended on August 26, 2025, and unanimously concluded that the increased liberty restrictions were warranted and represented the least restrictive options available to the hospital.

The hospital requested an early review of the accused's Disposition to permit him to travel to Montreal to attend his aunt's funeral.

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

The attending psychiatrist testified that a previous travel pass had occurred without issue and supported the proposed travel plan.

The Ontario Review Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and amended the Disposition to permit the travel, accompanied by his parents, without altering the scheduled annual review date.

The hospital requested an early review of the accused's disposition to amend his housing and reporting conditions.

The accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on a sexual assault charge, required a change from a 'locked residence' to '24/7 supervised accommodation' due to funding and placement delays.

The Ontario Review Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties, finding that the amendments would facilitate the accused's community reintegration while appropriately managing his risk to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and committing an indecent act.

The accused requested a transfer to a hospital closer to his family but later withdrew the request.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his mental illness, substance use vulnerability, and history of violence.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Disposition with the addition of seven-day passes to facilitate family visits, finding this to be the least restrictive and least onerous disposition.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for uttering threats and breach of probation.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to active symptoms of schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

The Board ordered a detention disposition with conditions, including supervised community access, abstention from intoxicants, and a no-contact order regarding his parents.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for weapons and threat offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been residing in a 24-hour supervised community residence and remained compliant with his medication.

The attending forensic psychiatrist testified that the accused's symptoms were in remission and he no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Board accepted the expert opinion, finding that the accused's medication compliance and stable housing mitigated any remaining risk factors.

The Board concluded the accused no longer met the threshold for significant threat and granted an Absolute Discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use Disorder, requested a transfer to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.

Relying on the uncontroverted expert evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing cannabis use, fluid insight, and a history of violence while psychotic.

The Board denied the transfer request, finding it would be detrimental to the accused's progress, and ordered continued detention at the Brockville Mental Health Centre with an expanded catchment area for community access.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for breach of probation and causing a disturbance.

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, had previously received an absolute discharge but relapsed into substance use and homelessness, leading to the index offences.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's expert opinion that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and requires the structure of a Detention Disposition to ensure approved accommodation and community support.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Disposition with an amendment to allow for travel passes.

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

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and break and enter, had been progressing well in 24-hour supervised housing until a recent incident involving the abuse of prescription medication and a lack of transparency with the treatment team regarding an inappropriate relationship with a former staff member.

The Board accepted the hospital's expert evidence that the accused's risk had elevated to moderate.

The Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the Detention Disposition, modifying it to require supervised accommodation rather than 24-hour supervision, and granting expanded day passes.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's detention disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for weapons offences, suffers from schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorders.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his mental illness, substance use, and history of aggressive behaviour when unwell.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention disposition at the hospital with conditions, noting his recent progress but emphasizing the need for continued treatment and supervision.

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

The accused had previously been found not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his history of violent behaviour, substance use, and complex mental health diagnoses.

The Board ordered that the current disposition, a detention order with privileges up to and including living in the community in approved accommodation, be maintained as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage his risk.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for various offences including assault with a weapon.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his complex mental health needs and history of rapid decompensation.

However, noting his positive progress and mental stability, the Board ordered a detention disposition with amended terms allowing him to reside in the community of Eastern Ontario, facilitating a transition to independent living near his family.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for offences including uttering threats and criminal harassment.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia with Catatonia and neurodevelopmental issues, resides in a supervised group home.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his major mental illness, history of violence, and partial insight.

The Board ordered a continued detention disposition but granted increased privileges, including indirectly supervised access to the community for work or volunteering and extended passes to visit family, finding this to be the least onerous and restrictive means of ensuring public safety.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.

The accused had been found not criminally responsible for arson.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, substance use history, and partial insight into his illness.

The Board concluded that a conditional discharge was not appropriate, as the civil commitment mechanisms under the Mental Health Act would be insufficient to protect public safety in the event of rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of a detention disposition, while granting additional indirectly supervised privileges to facilitate community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for offences including assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

The accused is currently diagnosed with Delusional Disorder and a Neurodevelopmental Disorder.

The Board accepted expert psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to lack insight, remains emotionally volatile, and recently assaulted a co-patient with scalding water.

The Board concluded the accused poses a significant threat to public safety and ordered a continued detention disposition at the hospital.

The Board also noted concern that the hospital placed the accused in locked seclusion for over seven days without providing the requisite restriction of liberty notice.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, appeared for an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The Board found that the accused, who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia in partial remission, continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public.

While the accused has made positive progress in rehabilitation and is collaborating with his treatment team, he continues to experience residual symptoms.

The Board ordered the continuation of a detention order with privileges for community living in approved accommodation, adding travel passes and the ability to drive with prior hospital approval.

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

The accused, diagnosed with chronic relapsing schizophrenia, sought an absolute discharge.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended a conditional discharge, citing the accused's history of discontinuing medication and decompensating when previously granted an absolute discharge, as well as his recent disengagement from treatment.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a conditional discharge with monthly reporting as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.