N. Nathanson

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The accused has diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder and antisocial personality disorder, and a history of substance abuse and violent offences.

The Board accepted a joint submission from the parties, finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order at the hospital, noting that without such structure, he would likely become non-compliant with medication and decompensate.

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

The accused, who has a long-standing diagnosis of schizophrenia, sought an absolute discharge.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continued detention order with expanded geographical conditions to facilitate housing searches.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, noting her lack of insight, history of medication non-compliance, and risk of decompensation and violence if unhoused and unmedicated.

A detention order was issued with the amended conditions requested by the hospital.

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

The accused had maintained stability in the community, secured full-time employment, and adhered to his medication regimen.

However, the Board found that his stability was highly contingent on ongoing forensic and clinical supports, and he continued to struggle with limited insight, financial instability, and psychosocial stressors, including a recent deportation order.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for mischief and animal cruelty.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia, had made positive progress and remained stable on medication but continued to lack insight into his mental illness and the index offences.

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

A continuation of the existing Detention Order was ordered as the necessary and appropriate disposition, being the least onerous and least restrictive option.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and related offences.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia, had been living in the community under a Detention Order.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the Detention Order, while the accused sought a Conditional Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight, ongoing delusional beliefs, and lack of professional community supports.

The Board concluded that a continuation of the Detention Order was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, as it allows the hospital to quickly readmit the accused in the event of decompensation or substance use.

George Veerman, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder in 2008, underwent his mandatory annual review before the Ontario Review Board.

The Board assessed whether he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety under s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code.

While Mr. Veerman remained stable in the community under a conditional discharge, the Board noted his limited insight into his schizophrenia and recent concerns regarding his cannabis use.

The Board concluded that he remained a significant threat and ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge to ensure close monitoring by his treatment team.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the accused's fitness to stand trial and his current disposition.

The accused, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and an Intellectual Disability, was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of robbery and assault with a weapon.

Relying on psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he lacks a reality-based understanding of the legal proceedings.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, noting the need for intensive supports during his upcoming transition to specialized community housing.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to a chronic psychotic disorder, comorbid substance use, and limited insight.

The Board concluded that a continuation of the existing Detention Order was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, as the hospital requires the ability to manage his risk and return him to the hospital if he decompensates.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder in 1979.

The accused sought indirectly supervised privileges into the community and a community living provision.

The hospital and the Attorney General argued that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that the existing Detention Order should be maintained.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat due to his schizoaffective disorder, lack of insight, and recent sexually inappropriate behaviours towards hospital staff.

The Board concluded that a continuation of the existing Detention Order without additional privileges was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage the risk.

The accused, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and an Intellectual Disability, was previously found unfit to stand trial on sexual offences.

The Review Board held a hearing to review his fitness and disposition.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot meaningfully communicate with counsel or make reality-based decisions.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of a Detention Order with modifications to allow for discharge planning and expanded geographic area for community living.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for flight from a peace officer and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Polysubstance Use Disorder, had remained stable and abstinent from substances during the reporting year but continued to have poor insight into his condition.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties and the evidence of the attending psychiatrist, finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order to allow for a gradual, supervised transition to living in the community with his father.

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

The treatment team and all parties agreed that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety but had made positive progress over the past year, including maintaining employment and abstaining from substances.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge, adopting the joint position to remove the absolute abstinence condition to allow the accused to demonstrate internal motivation, while maintaining substance testing and other conditions.

The accused, previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including aggravated assault and break and enter, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for a mandatory hearing.

The hospital and Crown argued he remained unfit, supported by his treating psychiatrist who expressed concerns about his ability to communicate with counsel and apply fitness concepts.

The accused testified and demonstrated an understanding of the justice participants, the trial process, and potential outcomes.

The Board found the accused fit to stand trial, concluding his answers were not merely memorized and he possessed a reality-based understanding of the proceedings.

The Board ordered him returned to court, noting it lacked authority to amend his pre-existing disposition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault and breach of probation, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for his annual hearing.

The Board heard evidence from his treating psychiatrist that while he is stable and seeking employment, he continues to experience episodes of agitation and paranoia.

The Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge 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 possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and failing to comply with a probation order.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had made significant progress while living in a supervised community residence under a Conditional Discharge.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety that can be managed in the community.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge with the same terms, supporting a gradual transition to the civil mental health system.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder, declined to attend the hearing.

The Board reviewed the hospital report and psychiatric evidence, which indicated the accused continues to pose a significant risk to the public due to his mental illness, lack of insight, and history of non-compliance with treatment.

The Board concluded that the current disposition, which detains the accused at the hospital with significant privileges, remains the least onerous and least restrictive disposition that balances his needs and public protection.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and methamphetamine use disorder, had made clinical progress but remained an elopement risk and vulnerable to substance-induced psychosis.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of a Detention Order with added conditions requiring substance abstention and testing, while permitting staff-escorted travel passes to facilitate family connection.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and mischief, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for his mandatory annual hearing.

All parties agreed that the current detention order best served his needs and public safety.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the public due to his schizoaffective disorder, history of non-compliance, and rapid decompensation when placed in the community.

The Board accepted the joint submission and maintained the detention order at the hospital.

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

The accused, diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type, did not attend the hearing.

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, noting a history of rapid decompensation when living in the community without oversight.

The Board ordered a continuation of the Detention Order with an amendment to allow travel passes within Ontario, while the hospital continues to advocate for supported community housing.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for first-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living in a supervised community residence and demonstrating stability, though he continued to experience anxiety and periodic paranoia.

Relying on expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order but amended it to allow indirectly supervised travel passes of up to 14 days to facilitate family visits.