Dr. Arun Prakash

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for theft under $5000.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and cognitive deficits, had been residing in a locked long-term care unit and demonstrated significant stability and compliance with treatment.

The treatment team, the hospital, the Attorney General, and the accused jointly recommended an absolute discharge.

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

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and other offences.

The accused, diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Substance Use Disorder, had transitioned to living in the community but remained vulnerable to relapse due to isolation and lack of structured activities.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that a detention order remains necessary to facilitate rapid readmission if he decompensates.

The detention disposition was continued, with an expansion of community passes to the Province of Ontario.

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 has a history of rapid decompensation.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the Detention Disposition.

While the Board accepted recommendations to expand the geographic area for community living and reduce reporting requirements, it rejected the hospital's recommendation to remove the weapons prohibition, citing the accused's history of threatening behaviour and rapid decompensation.

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and was subject to a conditional discharge.

At the annual review hearing, the Ontario Review Board considered whether the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

Based on evidence from the attending psychiatrist that the accused's mental illness was well-managed, he was compliant with treatment, and he had successfully transitioned to independent living with community supports, the Board concluded the accused no longer posed a significant threat.

The Board ordered an absolute discharge.

The appellant, Brandon Mott, appealed a Consent and Capacity Board decision that found him incapable of consenting to anti-psychotic medication.

Mott, diagnosed with schizophrenia, denied his illness and argued the Board failed to consider reported side effects and the role of substance use in his mental health history.

The Board had concluded Mott was unable to appreciate the foreseeable consequences of declining treatment due to his inability to recognize the manifestations of his mental condition, a finding upheld by the court.

The appeal was dismissed, with the court finding no palpable and overriding error in the Board's decision.