Dr. Melanie Strike

The Ontario Review Board held an 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 disorders, had made progress but continued to struggle with cannabis use, alcohol, gambling, and aggressive behaviour.

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

The Board ordered that the current detention order at the secure forensic unit be maintained, with privileges up to and including community living in approved accommodation.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for assault, assault with a weapon, assault against a police officer, and committing indecent acts.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused poses a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizophrenia and severe substance use disorder, which previously led to rapid psychotic decompensation and violence.

The Board ordered a detention order with permission to reside in supervised community accommodation, subject to conditions including absolute abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault and weapons offences due to schizophrenia.

The accused remained clinically stable on injectable medication but continued to use stimulants and denied her substance use disorder.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of decompensation and violence if she stops medication or increases substance use.

The Board ordered a continued conditional discharge but removed the strict abstention and weapons conditions to better assess her ability to manage her consumption in the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm and weapons offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and severe substance use disorders, had repeatedly absconded from the hospital, consumed illicit drugs, and committed new offences in Quebec.

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

The Board ordered continued detention, revoked community living privileges, and recommended an interprovincial transfer to a psychiatric hospital in Quebec.

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

The accused, who suffers from a moderate intellectual disability and a congenital brain tumor, had been detained at a forensic psychiatric hospital.

The hospital and all parties jointly submitted that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety but had made recent progress in managing his behavior.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the accused remained a significant threat under the Winko test.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order, while strongly encouraging the hospital to find an appropriately supervised community placement for the accused.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges including assault and assaulting a peace officer.

The accused, who has severe intellectual impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder, resides at a highly supervised group home.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and the psychiatric evidence that the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a conditional discharge with ongoing reporting requirements, finding this to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition available.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for impaired driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing.

Based on expert psychiatric evidence and a joint submission from all parties, the Board found that the accused's Bipolar I Disorder was in full remission and well-managed with medication.

The Board concluded that the accused no longer presents a significant threat to the safety of the public and granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and multiple substance use disorders, had made some progress but continued to struggle with substance use in a challenging group home environment.

Based on a joint submission and psychiatric evidence indicating a continued high risk of future violence, the Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered that the current detention disposition at the hospital remain in place.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, OCD, and PTSD, has been detained at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.

The parties jointly submitted that the accused continues to present a significant threat to public safety and requires a continued detention order.

The Board accepted the joint submission, maintaining the detention order while expanding the radius for approved community accommodation to 150 kilometres and extending family travel passes to two weeks.

The Board also directed the hospital to expedite a long-delayed sleep study to facilitate the accused's community reintegration.

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and uttering threats.

At her annual Review Board hearing, the majority found she no longer poses a significant threat to public safety, noting she has been stable in the community without antipsychotic medication for 18 months and has not reoffended.

The Board granted an absolute discharge.

The Board also found that a recent hospital readmission that restricted her liberty was not reasonable or necessary to manage public safety.

A dissenting member concluded the accused remains a significant risk due to ongoing psychotic symptoms, non-adherence to medication, and stated intentions to contact the victim.

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

The accused had previously been found not criminally responsible for arson and criminal harassment following a substance-induced psychotic episode.

The hospital, the accused, and the Crown all agreed that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Board accepted the evidence that the accused was employed in the mental health field, abstinent from substances, and stable without medication.

The Board granted the accused an absolute discharge.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended a transfer to CAMH and the removal of community living privileges due to the accused's recent abscondment, ongoing aggression, and lack of insight.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a Detention Disposition without community living privileges, approving the transfer to CAMH to address her specific personality disorder needs.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia in remission, had been living in a group home and maintaining sobriety.

Based on a joint submission and psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety but ordered a conditional discharge.

The Board modified the conditions, removing the strict abstinence requirement in favour of random testing and eliminating the no-contact order with the victim, his mother, given their positive relationship.

The Ontario Review Board held an early review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for being unlawfully in a dwelling and criminal harassment.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and multiple substance use disorders, had been detained in jail following breaches of his disposition and new criminal charges.

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

The Board ordered a detention disposition without community living and directed the accused's transfer to the Brockville Mental Health Centre for long-term bio-psychosocial rehabilitation.

The Board also found that the hospital's decision to issue a Form 49, resulting in the accused's detention in jail, was a reasonable and warranted restriction of his liberty.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and indecent acts.

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

The Board accepted the expert evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly when non-compliant with medication or using substances like cannabis.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with privileges for gradual community reintegration, subject to strict conditions prohibiting attendance at places where cannabis or alcohol are sold or consumed.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for assault causing bodily harm and possession of a weapon.

He appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition hearing.

The accused has a long-standing diagnosis of schizophrenia and a severe substance use disorder.

Following his release on bail, he absconded from a treatment facility and continued to consume hard drugs.

The Board accepted the joint submission that the accused continues to present a significant threat to public safety.

A detention order was issued to ensure the accused receives necessary psychiatric and addictions treatment in a secure forensic hospital unit.