Craig Loman Coughlan

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and possession of a weapon.

The hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the conditional discharge, while the accused sought an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted the treating physician's evidence that the accused lacks insight into his mental illness and would likely discontinue his medication if granted an absolute discharge, leading to decompensation and a risk of violent behavior.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge.

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

The accused, diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, had maintained stability and compliance with treatment over the past year.

The hospital recommended a conditional discharge with travel restrictions, which was supported by all parties.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, but that this risk can now be adequately managed in the community.

A conditional discharge was ordered, including conditions to report monthly, abstain from substances, and obtain approval for travel outside Ontario.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was found unfit to stand trial in 2019 on various assault and threat charges.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to an intellectual disability that prevents him from meaningfully participating in a trial.

Applying section 672.54 of the Criminal Code, the Board ordered the continuation of his current detention disposition at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with privileges to live in a supervised community residence, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage his risk to the public.

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

The hospital and Crown recommended maintaining the conditional discharge with a residence specification, while the accused requested the removal of the residence and treatment conditions.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing financial instability, residual guardedness, and the risk of decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the residence specification to ensure housing stability, but removed the consent to treatment provision as the accused was compliant with long-acting injectable medication.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and failing to comply with a release order.

The hospital and the Attorney General argued that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety and recommended a conditional discharge.

The accused sought an absolute discharge.

The majority of the Board found that the accused had maintained sustained mental stability, abstained from substances, and successfully reintegrated into the community.

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

A dissenting minority would have ordered a conditional discharge to ensure continued psychiatric follow-up.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, was placed in locked seclusion after violently assaulting a co-patient with a dumbbell.

The hospital notified the Ontario Review Board of a significant increase in the restriction of his liberty.

The Board held a hearing to review the restriction.

Applying the Campbell framework, the Board found that the hospital's decision to place the accused in seclusion was reasonable, warranted, and the least restrictive course of action available to manage the heightened risk to others.

The ongoing restriction was also upheld, noting the hospital's efforts to maximize his privileges through a Protective Devices Plan.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to experience residual symptoms and lacks insight into his illness.

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

The Board ordered the maintenance of the current disposition, detaining the accused at the hospital with privileges up to and including living in the community in 24-hour supervised accommodation.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for possession of weapons dangerous after waving a knife at citizens.

At his initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the hospital and Crown sought a detention order, citing his diagnoses of schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, ongoing auditory hallucinations, and lack of community supports.

The Board found the accused poses a significant threat to public safety and ordered his detention at the hospital with privileges up to indirectly supervised community passes, along with weapons and substance prohibitions.

The Ontario Review Board held a restriction of liberty hearing to review the hospital's decision to readmit the NCR accused from transitional housing to the hospital.

The accused, who has schizophrenia, exhibited threatening behaviour towards staff and had sub-therapeutic clozapine levels indicating medication non-compliance.

Applying the Campbell framework, the Board found the hospital's decision to significantly increase the restriction of liberty was reasonable, warranted, and the least onerous course of action to manage the heightened risk to others.

The restriction remains necessary while new accommodation with medication supervision is secured.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for murder after setting a victim on fire on a public transit bus, appeared for his annual review hearing.

The hospital and the accused sought to add a 24-hour supervised community living privilege to his Disposition to facilitate discharge planning.

The Crown opposed.

The Ontario Review Board denied the community living privilege, citing a recent unprovoked violent outburst, the recency of his diagnosis and medication change, and significant public safety concerns.

The Board granted indirectly supervised passes but prohibited the accused from accessing public transit unless accompanied by staff or an approved person.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for assault in 2007 due to schizophrenia.

The accused recently transitioned to independent housing but continues to experience severe delusions and requires substantial support and medication.

The Board found that without significant oversight, the accused would pose a serious risk to public safety.

The Board ordered that the current Disposition remain in place, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive option.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and aggravated assault of her children, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The hospital and Crown jointly submitted that while the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, her risk could be adequately managed on a conditional discharge.

The Board accepted the joint submission, noting the accused's medication compliance, stability, and amenability to direction, and ordered a conditional discharge.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm due to schizophrenia, had his annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and Crown recommended maintaining a Detention Order with new privileges for transfer to a General Unit and indirectly supervised community passes.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the public due to his history of violence, substance abuse, and noncompliance.

The Board concluded that a Detention Order with the recommended privilege upgrades was the least restrictive and least onerous disposition.

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

The parties presented a joint submission that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety but had made positive progress, warranting a change in his detention order to allow for privileges up to indirectly supervised on hospital grounds.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding it represented the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for mischief and causing a disturbance.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had made positive progress over the past year, remaining stable and medication adherent.

The Board accepted a joint submission to maintain the current Detention Order with the addition of a condition permitting supervised community living in the Greater Toronto Area and weekly reporting.

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

The accused sought a conditional discharge, while the hospital and Crown recommended maintaining the Detention Order with expanded travel privileges and reduced reporting.

The Board concluded that a Detention Order remained necessary to protect the public, given the accused's history of severe violence against family members and the risk of rapid decompensation related to his major depressive disorder.

The Disposition was amended to allow for approved travel and reduced reporting frequency.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, remained stable and compliant with medication but continued to present negative symptoms.

The Board accepted the joint submission and psychiatric evidence that without Board supervision, the accused would likely stop taking medication, become psychotic, and pose a significant threat to the public.

The Board ordered that the conditional discharge be continued as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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

The accused has schizophrenia and a substance use disorder.

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 Disposition at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, finding it necessary and appropriate to manage the risk while meeting the accused's needs.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for arson.

The Board found that the accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and has a history of medication non-compliance and substance abuse, continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order, noting that a residence providing supervision and support is critical to managing her risk in the community.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found unfit to stand trial on an assault charge.

The accused has severe autism and an intellectual disability.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted evidence of the hospital representative that the accused remains permanently unfit and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing incidents of aggression and risk of decompensation if unmedicated.

The Board ordered a continuation of the current detention disposition, finding it necessary and appropriate to manage the risk while meeting the accused's needs in a highly supported community residence.