Dan Blumenkrans

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found unfit to stand trial on sexual assault and sexual interference charges.

The accused suffers from expressive aphasia following a stroke.

The Board determined that the accused remains unfit to stand trial, as his communication limitations prevent him from instructing counsel in a complex trial.

The Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital with privileges up to living in the community, adding new conditions prohibiting attendance at places where children are present and requiring abstinence from psychoactive substances and alcohol.

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

The accused, diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, had transitioned to supportive community housing and remained stable and compliant with medication over the past year.

While all parties agreed the accused remained a significant threat to public safety, the accused sought a conditional discharge.

The Board concluded a detention disposition remained necessary to ensure adequate oversight, particularly regarding housing approvals and the ability to intervene early if his mental state deteriorated.

The Board varied the disposition to allow up to 14 days of indirectly supervised travel within Ontario and reduced his reporting frequency to once every two weeks.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to experience violent auditory hallucinations and lacks insight into his illness, believing his symptoms are caused by medication.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a continued Detention Disposition at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, denying the accused's request to reduce reporting requirements and removing a previous privilege for indirectly supervised travel.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, had disengaged from rehabilitative programming and exhibited psychiatric instability.

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

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order at the hospital with privileges up to living in the community in approved accommodation.

The accused, previously found NCR for violent offences including intimate partner violence, was subject to an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and the accused sought an absolute discharge, supported by the treating psychiatrist who opined the accused's schizophrenia was in remission.

The Attorney General opposed.

The Board rejected the hospital's recommendation, finding that the accused's history of serial violence, superficial insight, and recent alcohol use in breach of his disposition demonstrated he remained a significant threat to public safety.

A conditional discharge was ordered.

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

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and mischief, was subject to a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

All parties, including the accused, the hospital, and the Attorney General, consented to continuing the existing detention order with no changes.

The Board heard evidence from the treating psychiatrist and agreed to continue the detention order, including a community living clause to motivate the accused's progress.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and history of severe violence when unmedicated.

However, noting his stability, medication compliance, and support in the community, the Board concluded that a conditional discharge is the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage his risk.

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

The accused had been found not criminally responsible for robbery in 2008 and suffers from schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

All parties agreed that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and that the conditional discharge should continue.

The Board accepted the evidence of the treating psychiatrist that the accused requires ongoing supervision and support due to fluctuating insight and a recent reduction in medication.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual disposition hearing.

The hospital, Crown, and the accused jointly submitted that he continues to pose a significant threat to the public and that his current detention order should continue with the same conditions.

The Board accepted the joint submission, noting the accused's self-sabotaging behaviours, AWOL incidents, and need for further therapeutic engagement.

The Board ordered a continued Detention Order.

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for violent offences and was detained at a psychiatric hospital.

Following a successful appeal of his detention order, the Ontario Court of Appeal remitted the matter to the Ontario Review Board for a new hearing.

The Board found that while the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and housing instability, his risk could be adequately managed in the community.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge with strict terms, including a consent to treatment condition and a Young clause requiring him to attend the hospital for assessment if requested.

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

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and expressive aphasia following a stroke.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused lacks the cognitive capacity to understand the proceedings or communicate with counsel, and is likely permanently unfit.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to residual psychosis and a history of medication non-compliance.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order at the hospital.

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

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

The majority of the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, citing his recent unauthorized leave of absence, substance use, and resulting decompensation.

The Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital with amended conditions, including restoring a prohibition against cannabis use.

A dissenting member would have granted an absolute discharge, finding the risk of serious harm was not established.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and other offences.

The hospital and the Attorney General submitted that there should be no change to the current detention order, while the accused requested a conditional discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, noting his fragile mental status, ongoing psychotic symptoms exacerbated by cannabis use, and need for close supervision.

The Board ordered that the accused's care continue under the same terms as his current disposition.

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

The accused had previously been found unfit to stand trial on charges of robbery.

Based on the evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to treatment-refractory schizophrenia, which causes disorganized thoughts and delusional beliefs that impair his ability to instruct counsel.

However, the Board concluded he is not permanently unfit, as his medication is still being optimized.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the hospital, but expanded his community pass privileges to include the Greater Toronto Area for therapeutic purposes.

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

The accused, who has a history of schizophrenia exacerbated by cannabis use, had been detained at CAMH.

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

However, noting his clinical stability on a new medication regimen and his successful use of hospital passes, the Board ordered the continuation of his detention disposition with expanded privileges, including access to the Greater Toronto Area and the ability to live in approved supportive housing in the community.

The accused, who has severe autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, was charged with aggravated assault after attacking his mother and sister.

He was previously found unfit to stand trial and detained at CAMH.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine his fitness and the appropriate disposition.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to his profound cognitive limitations.

The Board ordered his continued detention on a general forensic unit at CAMH, with graduated passes and the possibility of community living in approved accommodation to facilitate gradual reintegration.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for attempted murder in 2004, suffers from schizophrenia and has a history of medication non-adherence and substance use.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight and likelihood of decompensation without supervision.

The Board ordered that the current detention disposition at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health continue unchanged.

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

The accused has treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a history of non-adherence to medication.

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

The Board ordered that the current detention disposition continue unchanged, allowing the accused to reside in approved community housing while remaining subject to hospital supervision.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for assault and uttering threats.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, sought a conditional discharge.

The hospital and Attorney General recommended maintaining the current detention order with discretionary privileges.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing substance use and fluctuating insight, and that a detention order remains necessary to manage his risks in the community.

The accused was found not criminally responsible (NCR) on multiple counts of assault and threatening.

At the initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the panel reviewed psychiatric reports indicating the accused suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, lacks insight, and experiences grandiose and paranoid delusions.

The panel found that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.

A detention order was issued with discretionary privileges, including accompanied passes on hospital grounds and escorted passes in the community.