David Vernon Rows

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including sexual assault.

The accused suffers from Huntington's disease and has experienced significant cognitive decline.

Based on the hospital report and the attending physician's evidence, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial and is likely permanently unfit.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, concluding that a detention order remains necessary to manage his risk and support his complex needs.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's disposition.

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and other offences.

The Board heard evidence that the accused continues to suffer from treatment-refractory schizophrenia, lacks insight into his illness, and refuses to accept his treating psychiatrist.

The Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered that he remain subject to a Detention Disposition with no change to the current terms.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, had required hospitalization during the reporting year due to psychiatric decompensation.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his fragile mental health and lack of full insight.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition with amendments, including the removal of an abstinence clause to test the accused's commitment to sobriety in the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for attempted murder.

The accused, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, had been living in the community and was fully compliant with her treatment regimen.

The Board accepted the unanimous clinical evidence that her mental state was stable and she no longer posed a real risk of physical or psychological harm.

Finding that the accused no longer represented a significant threat to the safety of the public, the Board ordered an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to make an initial disposition for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including break and enter and assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, refused medication and exhibited persistent grandiose and persecutory delusions.

Applying the test for fitness to stand trial, the Board found the accused remained unfit as he could not understand the proceedings or meaningfully communicate with counsel.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with conditions, including a no-contact provision, prioritizing public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an accused found unfit to stand trial on historical sexual offences.

The accused suffers from a major neurocognitive disorder (likely Fahr's Disease) with severe cognitive impairment and behavioural disturbances.

Applying the fitness test from R. v. Bharwani, the Board found the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot understand the proceedings or communicate with counsel.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge, requiring the accused to reside in a supervised long-term care facility.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault and mischief, appeared before the review board for an annual disposition review.

The board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to treatment-refractory schizophrenia, limited insight, and vulnerability to substance use relapse.

The board ordered a detention disposition with conditions including 24/7 supervised accommodation and an abstinence clause.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various assault and police assault charges.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and panic disorder.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing symptoms, undeveloped insight, and a significant substance use history.

The Board ordered a continuation of the Detention Disposition with amendments to the community living clause to include culturally relevant indigenous-based supervised accommodations.

The accused, previously found NCR for various offences including assault with a weapon, was readmitted to the hospital after testing positive for cocaine while living in the community.

The hospital restricted his liberty, triggering a mandatory Review Board hearing.

The Board found that the initial and ongoing restriction of liberty was necessary and appropriate for public safety, as the accused lacked insight into how substance use impacts his mental disorder and risk level, and required a sustained period of abstinence before entering a residential treatment program.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for various offences, was subject to a restriction of liberty by the hospital after receiving illicit substances thrown over a fence by a minor.

The accused's privileges were reduced to Level 0 and he experienced multiple seclusions due to ongoing substance use and agitation.

The accused also requested a trial off medication to determine if his psychosis was primary or substance-induced.

The Ontario Review Board found that the restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive measure available.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for pointing a firearm and appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition.

The Board considered expert psychiatric evidence indicating that the accused lacks full insight into his bipolar disorder and remains vulnerable to relapse if he stops medication or resumes cannabis use.

Finding that the accused poses a significant threat to public safety, the Board ordered a conditional discharge with terms including residence requirements and psychiatric monitoring.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop for police.

The accused's treating psychiatrist testified that the accused's primary diagnosis may be substance-induced rather than bipolar disorder, and that substance use remains a primary trigger for relapse.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and the uncontroverted expert evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order with additional privileges for hospital/ground access and indirectly supervised community access.

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

The accused, who suffers from treatment-refractory schizophrenia, has a history of setting fires driven by fixed delusions.

Based on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order, amending it to remove indirectly supervised grounds privileges due to the accused's risk of absconding and re-offending.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and failing to comply with probation.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, had made positive gains in treatment and anger management.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence, the Board found the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to a lack of assessment in an unstructured environment.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with increased privileges, including living in the community in approved accommodation.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission and cannabis use disorder, had been living in the community without incident.

Relying on uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his mental condition and ongoing daily cannabis use.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge with terms including a weapons prohibition and random urine screens, but notably excluded an absolute abstinence clause to allow monitoring of his cannabis use in the community.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The accused had maintained a long period of mental stability, medication adherence, and sobriety from substances.

Relying on the unanimous opinion of the clinical team and the attending psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public.

An Absolute Discharge was ordered.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and a Restriction of Liberty (ROL) hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for break and enter and breach of probation.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had his liberty restricted after testing positive for methamphetamines and going AWOL from his community residence.

The Board found the restriction of liberty was warranted and necessary.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order with amendments requiring 24/7 supervised accommodation.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for two counts of arson.

At the initial hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the Board considered whether the accused represented a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board found that the accused's major mental illness, history of noncompliance with treatment, and ongoing substance use posed a significant threat of serious criminality.

The Board concluded that a detention disposition was necessary and appropriate to manage the risk, allowing the hospital to respond quickly to any return of psychotic symptoms.

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

The accused has a history of schizoaffective disorder, substance use, and violence.

While he made recent progress in the hospital setting, he continues to lack insight into his illness and the impact of substance use.

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

A detention disposition was ordered as necessary and appropriate to manage his risk.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and antisocial personality disorder, had made significant progress while living in a supervised transitional group home.

On a joint submission, the Board found the accused continued to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his vulnerability to relapse and rapid decompensation under stress.

The Board ordered a continued detention disposition but removed the condition requiring abstinence from substances, while maintaining testing requirements, to assess his insight as he transitions to less-supervised housing.