The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.
The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly submitted that the accused continued to represent a significant threat to public safety and that a detention disposition remained necessary, but with the deletion of the condition requiring abstention from alcohol and drugs.
The Board accepted the joint submission, noting the accused's complex mental health issues, ongoing cannabis use, and looming housing eviction.
The Board concluded that a detention disposition was required to allow the hospital to manage the risk of rapid decompensation and support the accused's reintegration, while the removal of the abstention condition recognized his progress and encouraged transparency.
