David Vernon Rows

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The accused has a long history of schizoaffective disorder, substance use, and non-compliance with treatment.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, 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 the risk and support the accused's ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for arson endangering human life.

The accused suffers from major mental illness, recently diagnosed as Dissociative Identity Disorder, and has a history of substance abuse and severe childhood trauma.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, and a recent relapse into substance use while in hospital.

A detention disposition was ordered as necessary and appropriate to manage her risk while she engages in the early phases of psychotherapy.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for offences including uttering threats and assault with intent to resist arrest.

At his initial disposition hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the uncontradicted psychiatric evidence established that his schizophrenia was well-managed in the community through long-acting injectable medication and a Community Treatment Order.

The Board found that the accused did not pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for weapons and break-and-enter offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had recently been readmitted to the hospital due to paranoia but showed rapid improvement after starting clozapine.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and that a continuation of the Detention Order with amended privileges is the necessary and appropriate disposition.

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

The accused sought to remove conditions prohibiting cannabis use and requiring random drug screening, while conceding he remained a significant threat to public safety requiring a detention disposition.

The Board found that the accused's major mental illness, exacerbated by substance use, continued to pose a significant threat.

The Board concluded that a detention disposition remained necessary and that the abstinence and testing conditions were minimally intrusive and essential to ensure public safety, given the accused's history of rapid decompensation following substance use.

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

The accused has treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a history of substance use.

The hospital recommended continuing the Detention Order but removing the abstain from substances clause to test the accused's ability to abstain as his privileges increase in the community.

The Board found the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety but accepted the hospital's recommendation to remove the abstain clause, noting that close supervision would allow for a quick return to the hospital if his mental health deteriorated.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for assault by choking and was discharged on conditions.

At his initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the hospital's attending psychiatrist testified that the accused's schizophrenia and substance use disorder were in partial remission, he had strong community support, and he no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Crown and the accused supported the hospital's recommendation.

The Board unanimously accepted the psychiatric evidence, found the accused did not pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, and granted an absolute discharge.

The accused was charged with historical sexual offences but was found unfit to stand trial by the Superior Court of Justice due to severe cognitive decline resulting from metastatic lung cancer.

The Ontario Review Board held a disposition hearing and unanimously accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused's condition is permanent and he cannot meaningfully participate in a trial.

Applying the Supreme Court's test in Bharwani, the Board confirmed the accused is unfit to stand trial.

Given his medical condition and lack of significant threat to public safety, the Board ordered a conditional discharge with minimal conditions, including virtual reporting and a no-contact order with the victims.

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

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, had previously choked his mother due to command hallucinations.

The treating psychiatrist testified that the accused's mental status had significantly improved and his medications were optimized, though he still required the structure of a hospital setting.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and ordered the continuation of the detention order with amended privileges, including the possibility of residing in approved accommodation in the community once transitioned.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and referred to the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition hearing.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and an intellectual disability, and has a history of violence and noncompliance with medication.

The Board applied the Winko test and unanimously found that the accused represents a significant threat to the safety of the public.

A Detention Order was issued with privileges up to indirectly supervised hospital and grounds access, taking into account an outstanding criminal charge for which the accused was remanded in custody.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, was living in the community under a disposition order.

After being evicted from his group home and temporarily housed in a motel, his mental health decompensated, exacerbated by cannabis use.

The hospital readmitted him, significantly restricting his liberties.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code and found that the initial and ongoing restriction of the accused's liberty was necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive option available to manage his risk.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had transitioned to a group home and was doing well, though he continued to experience psychotic symptoms and delusional beliefs.

The hospital, supported by the Attorney General and the accused's counsel, recommended continuing the Detention Order with amended pass privileges.

The Board unanimously found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with the requested amendments to allow for indirectly supervised passes.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges including unlawfully in a dwelling house and assaulting a peace officer.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine fitness and disposition.

Based on psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to a combination of intellectual disability and an unspecified psychotic disorder.

The Board concluded that the accused represents a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered a Detention Disposition with privileges, including the possibility of residing in 24-hour supervised community accommodation.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who had previously been found unfit to stand trial on various charges including mischief and theft.

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused's schizophrenia symptoms had resolved with medication and that he now demonstrated a reality-based appreciation of the legal process.

Applying the Supreme Court of Canada's recent decision in Bharwani, the Board unanimously accepted the psychiatric evidence and found the accused fit to stand trial.

The Board ordered that the accused be returned to court.

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

The accused's primary diagnosis of schizophrenia is complicated by catatonia, which the hospital is actively treating.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused lacks insight and would likely discontinue treatment and return to substance use if unsupervised.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order with privileges.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder, had transitioned to independent living and remained abstinent from substances.

The Board found that while the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, he can be safely managed in the community under the terms of a conditional discharge, supported by his family and community mental health resources.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's disposition and fitness to stand trial.

The accused, who has a severe intellectual developmental disorder, was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including sexual assault and assault.

Relying on the uncontested psychiatric evidence and applying the Supreme Court's recent test in Bharwani, the Board unanimously found the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot meaningfully participate in the process.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current hospital Detention Order, finding the accused poses a significant threat to public safety and requires a highly structured and supervised setting, while noting ongoing efforts to secure appropriate community accommodation.

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 committing indecent acts.

The Board applied the test from R. v. Bharwani and accepted the uncontradicted psychiatric evidence that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to a schizoaffective disorder and delusions that prevent a reality-based understanding of the court process.

The Board ordered the continuation of the accused's Detention Order without amendment to protect public safety.

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

The accused suffers from bipolar disorder and a traumatic brain injury, and has a history of substance use and non-adherence to treatment in the community.

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

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order with amendments to the geographical area for passes, finding that a less restrictive disposition would not adequately protect the public.

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

Despite recent incidents of substance use and a suicide attempt, the accused's mental condition had stabilized with long-acting injectable antipsychotics and intensive community support.

The Board accepted expert psychiatric evidence that the accused's risk of violence to the public was low, and that his recent struggles primarily posed a risk of self-harm.

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