David Vernon Rows

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for uttering threats, suffers from schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing delusions, recent substance use relapses, and fluctuating insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition with minor modifications, finding that the hospital requires the authority to return him for assessment if his mental state deteriorates.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for firearms and threat offences.

The accused, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and substance use disorder, had recently relapsed into cocaine use and experienced a motor vehicle accident while on community living privileges.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his high risk of relapse, underdeveloped insight, and recent substance use.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention disposition with no expansion of privileges, rejecting a joint submission to expand community passes for a speculative employment opportunity.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for attempt to commit murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had made significant progress in the community and maintained abstinence.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition with expanded community privileges, including reduced reporting requirements and the removal of abstain and no-contact clauses.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for weapons and threat offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had successfully transitioned to a less supervised community residence and remained abstinent.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety but concluded that a conditional discharge with a residency requirement and treatment conditions was the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage the risk while promoting reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of assault and uttering threats.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder.

Based on the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the attending psychiatrist, the Board found the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention disposition and extended the time for the next review hearing to 24 months.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assaulting a peace officer and mischief.

The accused suffers from treatment refractory schizoaffective disorder, substance use disorder, and intellectual development disorder.

The Board accepted the uncontested psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to experience psychotic symptoms, lacks insight, and requires 24/7 supervision.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered the continuation of his detention disposition, with expanded geographic boundaries for passes to facilitate placement on a waitlist for supportive housing.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the hospital's decision to restrict the liberty of the accused, who had previously been found unfit to stand trial.

The accused had absconded during a community program, walked into traffic, and assaulted a staff member.

The Board found that the initial decision to withhold privileges and the ensuing restriction of liberty were necessary, appropriate, and represented the least restrictive measures available to manage the risk to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an 81-year-old accused found not criminally responsible for attempted murder.

The accused had cut his daughter-in-law's throat while experiencing delirium induced by a severe, treatment-resistant infection following hip surgery.

Accepting a joint submission supported by the treating psychiatrist's evidence, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his ongoing infection and cognitive decline.

The Board ordered a detention order with discretionary privileges, including the ability to reside in hospital-approved community accommodation.

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

Following a transfer from Alberta to Ontario, the Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing.

Relying on uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to suffer from delusional disorder and poses a significant threat to public safety if released without supervision.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition with privileges to allow for gradual reintegration into the community.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine the fitness of the accused, who had previously been found unfit to stand trial on charges including mischief and causing a disturbance.

The accused has a complex mental health history involving severe trauma, suicide attempts, and diagnoses including Complex PTSD and possible Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Relying on the expert evidence of two treating psychiatrists, the Board found that the accused remained unable to demonstrate a reality-based understanding of court proceedings and could not rationally instruct counsel.

The Board concluded the accused remains unfit to stand trial and ordered a Detention Disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the Detention Disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for bank robbery.

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission and the hospital's psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight, risk of substance use, and potential for medication non-adherence in the community.

The Board ordered that the Detention Disposition be maintained with the same terms.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition.

The Board found that the accused, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder and has a history of medication non-adherence and cannabis use, remains a significant threat to public safety.

Relying on uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded that a Conditional Discharge was inappropriate due to the accused's fragile stability and need for supervised accommodation.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with a transfer to CAMH and residual authority at Southwest.

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

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and other offences, was subject to a Conditional Discharge.

Due to recent medication non-adherence, increased substance use, and decompensation, the hospital recommended a Detention Disposition.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that a Conditional Discharge was no longer sufficient to manage his risk.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition at the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care.

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

The hospital and the Crown jointly submitted that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety and should receive an absolute discharge.

The Board rejected the joint submission, finding that the accused's bipolar disorder remained unstable, his medication regimen required frequent adjustments, and his risk management relied heavily on the tenuous support of his common-law partner.

Concluding that the accused continued to pose a significant threat, the Board ordered a Detention Order.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for theft, was living in the community under an Ontario Review Board disposition.

He was evicted from his group home for distributing crystal methamphetamine to other patients and returned to the hospital, resulting in a restriction of his liberty.

The Board held a hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code to review the restriction.

The Board found that both the initial and ongoing restrictions of liberty were justified, necessary, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive option available, given his substance use, anti-social personality disorder, and lack of insight.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and assault causing bodily harm due to schizoaffective disorder.

The treating psychiatrist testified that the accused is currently symptom-free, compliant with medication, and has strong community support.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that while the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, his risk can be adequately managed in the community.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge.

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.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and assault with a weapon.

The accused had been living in the community and making significant progress in managing his bipolar and substance use disorders.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, but that the threat can be adequately managed by a conditional discharge with reduced reporting requirements and the removal of the abstention condition, pending his transition to a community mental health team.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for multiple violent and sexual offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and an intellectual disability, had been residing in a supervised group home and remained stable on medication with no recent violent incidents.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his need for structured supervision to maintain medication compliance.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with a reduction in reporting requirements to facilitate his eventual transition to an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team.

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 aggravated assault.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and the psychiatric evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public due to schizophrenia and a history of substance abuse.

The Board ordered a continued Detention Order with expanded accompanied passes to facilitate cautious community integration.