David Vernon Rows

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

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, supported by the attending psychiatrist, that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a continued Detention Order with existing conditions, but reduced the frequency of reporting requirements to encourage greater independence, while removing a no-contact clause regarding the victims.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for failing to comply with probation and criminal harassment.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended maintaining the detention order with minor changes, including removing the abstain clause and increasing reporting frequency.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and requires the structure and supervision of a detention order to maintain medication compliance and abstinence from substances.

The disposition was continued with the hospital's recommended changes.

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

The accused suffers from Schizophrenia and a personality change due to a traumatic brain injury, which contributed to sexually inappropriate behaviours.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with privileges up to community living, noting that the accused's symptoms are well-controlled when compliant with hormone suppressant and antipsychotic medications.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder in 2004.

The accused has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and has experienced significant cognitive decline.

The parties made a joint submission that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that the current detention disposition remains necessary and appropriate.

The Board agreed, finding that the accused lacks insight, requires supervision for medication adherence, and would pose a risk of serious harm if released without supervision.

The detention disposition was continued.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder, was living in the community under a detention disposition.

The parties jointly submitted that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety but recommended removing the substance abstention condition to test his internal motivation to abstain, coupled with increased reporting.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the accused's history of decompensation linked to cannabis use required ongoing oversight, but agreed to remove the abstention clause while maintaining the detention disposition and increasing reporting frequency.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for arson, was subject to a detention disposition at a forensic mental health centre.

At his annual review hearing, all parties agreed he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The hospital and Crown sought a continued detention disposition, while the accused sought a conditional discharge.

The Review Board found that the accused's risk could be adequately managed in the community under a conditional discharge, given his recent stability, adherence to medication, full-time employment, and the ability to monitor him closely with conditions including abstention from substances and consent to treatment.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment.

The accused sought a conditional discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General sought a continuation of the detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his major mental illness, uncertain diagnosis, and lack of insight into symptom re-emergence.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, emphasizing the need for hospital-approved accommodation and ongoing supervision to manage the risk of deterioration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for mischief and uttering threats.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and Substance Use Disorder, had recently transitioned to independent living and maintained abstinence from substances.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, supported by psychiatric evidence, finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

A detention disposition was maintained, but conditions were varied to remove the abstain clause to test his internal motivation, while retaining a residential treatment clause and modifying pass privileges to support his ongoing community reintegration.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and other offences.

At the initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the Board found that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public.

Accepting the joint recommendation of the parties and the hospital, the Board ordered a conditional discharge to allow for further diagnostic assessment and treatment in the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused, diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had recently transitioned to a community group home but was found to have used cannabis undetected.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to the risk of decompensation and violence if unsupervised.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault after stabbing a stranger.

At his initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the hospital and Crown sought a detention order, which the accused did not oppose.

The Board heard psychiatric evidence that the accused has a complex mental disorder, a strong history of substance abuse, and requires further psychoeducation and treatment.

Finding that the accused poses a significant threat to public safety and that a conditional discharge would be inadequate to manage his risk of decompensation, the Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for breaking and entering, was living in the community under a detention order.

Following a decline in his mental condition, including paranoid ideation, aggression, and admitted alcohol consumption, he was admitted to the hospital, restricting his liberties.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing and found that the initial admission and continuing hospitalization were warranted and appropriate to stabilize his condition and manage the risk to public safety.

The Board also approved the addition of a residential treatment clause to the Disposition.

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

The hospital, supported by all parties, recommended an absolute discharge, noting the accused's chronic but stable mental illness is well-managed in the community with the support of an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and an imminent Community Treatment Order.

Applying the Winko test, the Board concluded the accused no longer poses a significant threat to public safety and granted an absolute discharge.

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

The accused had been found not criminally responsible for offences including assaulting a peace officer causing bodily harm.

The Board found that the accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a Detention Order, but expanded his privileges to include 36-hour community passes and the opportunity for supervised community living, as jointly recommended by the parties.

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 other offences, suffers from schizoaffective disorder and a substance use disorder.

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

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a Detention Order with minor variations, as it is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage her risk while supporting her community reintegration.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, was subject to a review of her disposition by the Ontario Review Board.

The parties jointly submitted that she no longer represented a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board accepted the joint submission and the evidence of her attending psychiatrist, finding that her mental health was stable, she was compliant with treatment, and she had strong community supports including a Community Treatment Order.

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

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and vascular dementia, sought an absolute discharge, while the hospital and Crown recommended continuing the detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing symptoms, lack of insight, and a history of medication non-adherence.

The Board confirmed the detention order, noting the absence of a realistic community release plan.

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

The accused, diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, had stopped taking antipsychotic medication and exhibited ongoing paranoia and imperfect insight.

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

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge, but reduced reporting requirements and removed the submit samples and consent to treatment clauses, representing 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 attempted murder.

The accused continues to suffer from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations.

Based on the evidence of the treating psychiatrist and a joint submission, the Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The previous disposition was renewed on the same conditions.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to restrict the liberty of an accused found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The accused's privileges were reduced from Level 5 to Level 0 due to escalating antisocial and intimidating behaviours towards other patients and staff.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's evidence and found that the restriction was a significant departure from the accused's liberty norm, but was necessary and appropriate for public safety.

The Board concluded the restriction was the least onerous and least restrictive measure available.