Dr. Ray

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found unfit to stand trial on a charge of assault.

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and expressive aphasia following a stroke.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused lacks the cognitive capacity to understand the proceedings or communicate with counsel, and is likely permanently unfit.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to residual psychosis and a history of medication non-compliance.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order at the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for arson and weapons offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and borderline personality disorder, sought a transfer from CAMH to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre to be closer to family.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing psychotic symptoms, severe behavioural dysregulation, and recent incidents of violence and elopement.

The Board concluded that a transfer was premature, as the accused requires the intensive support, seclusion facilities, and specialized therapy available at CAMH, and must first successfully complete a trial on a mixed-gender unit.

The current detention order was continued.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault, robbery, and failing to comply with probation.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and a severe substance use disorder, and has a history of non-compliance with treatment.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused lacks insight into her illness and continues to experience psychotic symptoms.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered the continuation of her detention at the hospital.

Mavis Alexander appealed a disposition from the Ontario Review Board (ORB) that ordered her continued detention at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and restricted her privileges to escorted hospital and community access.

The ORB had removed prior conditions allowing for less supervised community access and placement on waitlists for community accommodation, citing her high risk of decompensation, disrobing, and exit-seeking behaviour.

Alexander argued the removal was unreasonable and contrary to Kelly (Re), emphasizing the long waitlists for supportive housing and the therapeutic benefit of such provisions.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, deferring to the Board's decision.

The Court found the Board's assessment that the conditions lacked an "air of reality" was supported by the evidence, distinguishing the case from Kelly (Re) where community living was therapeutically motivated and not "so unrealistic."