David Vernon Rows

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to significantly restrict the accused's liberty by admitting him to the hospital from the community.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for arson, had been non-compliant with medication, using substances, and expressing violent ideation.

The Board found that the restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and the least onerous measure available for public safety.

The Board also amended the existing disposition on consent to allow for future passes to a residential treatment program and within Southwestern Ontario.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended a continuation of the Detention Order with expanded privileges, including the removal of the substance abstain clause to test the accused's ability to cope in the community.

The accused's counsel agreed with the joint submission.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to her severe mental illness, history of substance abuse, and underdeveloped insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with the recommended changes, and directed the preparation of a Gladue Report for the next hearing.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation, break and enter, and assault.

The accused, diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, had recently stabilized following medication optimization, including a long-acting injectable antipsychotic.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's evidence that while the accused's risk had lowered, he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his history of decompensation, non-compliance, and the recency of his improvements.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge with modifications, removing the residence and abstain conditions and reducing reporting requirements, but retained the no-contact conditions regarding the victims.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for weapons and threat offences.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the detention order.

The Board found that the accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder and lacks insight into his illness, continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage his risk.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and failing to comply with court orders.

The accused, diagnosed with Delusional Disorder, continues to experience fixed delusions regarding his ex-wife and lacks insight into his illness.

The Board accepted the joint submission and the attending psychiatrist's evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with added privileges for indirectly supervised passes and community living to facilitate gradual reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for mischief and failing to comply with a release order.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had recently been involved in methamphetamine use on the hospital unit.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his mental illness, history of nonadherence to treatment, and recent substance use.

The Board ordered a continuation of the detention order with the addition of indirectly supervised passes to allow for gradual community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including sexual assault and criminal harassment.

The accused is currently diagnosed with schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and an intellectual disability.

Based on the evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to be unfit to stand trial as he does not understand the nature or object of the proceedings or the possible consequences.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order at the hospital, finding that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and requires close supervision.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats, assaulting a peace officer, and escaping lawful custody.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had demonstrated sustained stability, abstinence from substances, and compliance with treatment while living in the community.

The Board, applying the Winko framework, concluded that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to the safety of the public and granted an absolute discharge.

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

The accused, who suffers from chronic, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, did not attend the hearing but was represented by counsel.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the treating psychiatrist that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing psychotic symptoms, medication nonadherence, and lack of insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order without change.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the conditional discharge of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had recently experienced a decline in physical health and cognition, leading to falls and a brief unauthorized absence from his long-term care home, resulting in readmission to the hospital.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his major mental illness, lack of insight, and need for supervision.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current conditional discharge without changes, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine whether the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on a charge of aggravated assault, continued to be unfit and to determine the appropriate disposition.

The accused, suffering from Korsakoff's Dementia, was unable to participate and the hearing proceeded in her absence.

Based on the medical evidence and a joint submission, the Board found the accused remains unfit to stand trial and granted a conditional discharge, allowing her to remain at her current long-term care facility with a weapons prohibition and a no-contact order.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder in the death of his infant child.

The accused suffers from bipolar disorder with psychotic features.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his major mental illness, lack of community testing, and the severe violence of the index offence.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order with additional privileges to allow for gradual, supervised reintegration into his home community.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review of the accused's disposition under s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.

The accused, who was previously found NCR for assault and threatening bodily harm, had a positive year living in a supervised group home.

The treatment team recommended continuing the detention order with expanded privileges, including indirectly supervised 72-hour passes, to facilitate community integration.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and that the continued detention order is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had a successful year in the community with no hospital admissions or cannabis use, though she consumed alcohol.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety but granted a conditional discharge.

Accepting the attending psychiatrist's evidence, the Board declined to impose an alcohol abstain clause or driving restriction, finding no connection between her alcohol use and her risk to the public.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges including harassment and assault.

Based on the expert evidence of the treating psychiatrist and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused's schizophrenia and delusional beliefs were sufficiently managed by medication to render him fit to stand trial.

The Board ordered the accused returned to court and issued a Keep Fit Order to ensure his continued medication adherence and fitness pending trial.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had experienced relapses into substance use while in the community.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence and a joint submission, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to a lack of insight and risk of decompensation if unsupervised.

The Board ordered the continuation of a Detention Order, modified to permit the accused to live in supervised accommodation approved by the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and a restriction of liberty review for an accused found not criminally responsible for robbery and uttering threats.

The accused had absconded from the hospital, used substances, and missed his medication injection, resulting in a significant restriction of his liberty upon his return.

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

The Board also concluded that the accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention disposition with an increase in 7-day passes to facilitate community reintegration.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had shown progress with a new medication regimen but continued to experience hallucinations and lacked full insight into his illness.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board concluded the accused remained a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with joint-submission amendments, removing the requirement for supervised accommodation and granting accompanied community passes.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had voluntarily returned to the hospital multiple times due to cannabis use, which exacerbates his psychotic symptoms.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order, finding it necessary to manage his risk and support his reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder due to schizophrenia.

The Board heard evidence from the treating psychiatric team that the accused has made progress but remains stress-vulnerable and requires ongoing medication optimization.

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

A detention disposition was ordered, allowing for gradual reintegration into the community through supervised passes and potential group home placement, subject to strict monitoring and geographic restrictions.