Jill McKenzie

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for criminal harassment and sending an indecent communication.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing to determine whether the accused represented a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board found that the accused, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to pose a significant threat due to the risk of recurring psychosis and harassing behaviour if he were to discontinue his medication.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge with terms including a geographic restriction and a requirement to disclose any dating or intimate relationships to the hospital.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, was subject to an annual review by the Ontario Review Board.

The treatment team and all parties agreed that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety but had made positive progress over the past year, including maintaining employment and abstaining from substances.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge, adopting the joint position to remove the absolute abstinence condition to allow the accused to demonstrate internal motivation, while maintaining substance testing and other conditions.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder in 1979.

The accused sought indirectly supervised privileges into the community and a community living provision.

The hospital and the Attorney General argued that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that the existing Detention Order should be maintained.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat due to his schizoaffective disorder, lack of insight, and recent sexually inappropriate behaviours towards hospital staff.

The Board concluded that a continuation of the existing Detention Order without additional privileges was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage the risk.

The accused, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder and an Intellectual Disability, was previously found unfit to stand trial on sexual offences.

The Review Board held a hearing to review his fitness and disposition.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot meaningfully communicate with counsel or make reality-based decisions.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of a Detention Order with modifications to allow for discharge planning and expanded geographic area for community living.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for charges including advocating genocide and willful promotion of hatred after posting over 4,000 antisemitic messages on social media.

At his initial disposition hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the panel found that he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his diagnosis of schizophrenia, pathological anger, and high risk of violent re-offending.

The Board ordered a detention order with discretionary privileges, including the potential for indirectly supervised passes in the community, and imposed strict conditions monitoring his access to the internet and social media.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused requested permission to consume alcohol and cannabis, while the hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the detention order with a new provision for 7-day passes.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight into his schizophrenia and substance use issues.

The Board continued the detention order with the requested 7-day pass privileges and denied the accused's request to consume substances.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for break and enter, attempt murder, and kidnapping.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had previously experienced severe religious delusions and attacked a social worker while attempting to kidnap his sister.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but noted significant improvements in his condition, insight, and compliance with treatment.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with expanded privileges, including community living and 7-day passes, and removed the conditions prohibiting alcohol consumption and requiring urine testing.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for a mandatory review of his conditional discharge.

The majority of the Board found that he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his schizophrenia, narcissistic personality traits, and the risk of decompensation under stress.

The Board maintained his conditional discharge but reduced his reporting requirement to not less than once each month.

A dissenting member would have found that he no longer represents a significant threat and granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought to remove the accused's community living privileges and transfer him to another medium secure facility due to a treatment impasse and escalating behaviour towards staff.

The majority of the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered his detention to continue.

However, the majority declined to order a transfer or remove community living privileges, noting the accused's established community supports, housing, and a pending appeal regarding his capacity to consent to treatment.

A dissenting member would have ordered the transfer due to the therapeutic impasse.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and assault with a weapon, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual disposition review.

The hospital and the accused sought an absolute discharge, while the Attorney General sought a conditional discharge.

The Board found that the accused had not displayed psychotic symptoms in ten years, had been abstinent from substances since 2022, and had strong community support.

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

The hospital requested an early review of the accused's disposition following two serious assaults on staff members by the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats.

The hospital sought to transfer the accused to a higher security facility (Waypoint).

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his unpredictable and impulsive violence.

The Board ordered the accused transferred to Waypoint on a detention order with accompanied privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition and a review of a restriction of his liberties.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and substance use disorders, was readmitted to the hospital after his community residence became unviable following his grandmother's death.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his major mental illness, history of substance use, and risk of rapid deterioration if non-adherent to treatment.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order and found the hospital's restriction of liberties to be necessary and appropriate.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, has a history of suicidal ideation and emotional dysregulation.

The treating psychiatrist testified that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to limited insight, emotional fragility, and risk of relapse.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order with the same terms and conditions.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living independently in the community but struggled with medication adherence, lack of motivation, and ongoing delusions.

The treating psychiatrist and all parties recommended continuing the conditional discharge.

The Board agreed, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and would likely decompensate without the external control and support provided by a conditional discharge.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for second-degree murder after stabbing his cousin.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, history of cannabis use disorder, and the recent nature of his symptom management.

The Board ordered his detention at a forensic psychiatry program with strict conditions, including absolute abstinence from intoxicants and a graduated, highly supervised approach to community access privileges.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for two counts of sexual assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living with his family and maintaining medication compliance.

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused's risk of sexual recidivism was very low and that he did not pose a significant threat while supported by his family.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board concluded it could not affirmatively find that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The accused was granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and assault with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had been stable, medication adherent, and abstinent from substances over the past year, and was preparing for discharge to supportive community housing.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his risk of relapse without oversight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order Disposition, finding it necessary and appropriate to safely manage his risk while supporting his community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault, has diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and the psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to residual psychotic symptoms and risk of substance relapse.

The Board ordered that the accused's detention order be continued, with an amendment to expand the geographical boundary for passes to facilitate a future community residential placement.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for various offences.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, arguing he no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The hospital and Crown sought a continued detention order with increased community privileges.

Applying the Winko framework, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat due to his diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorder, and his vulnerability to decompensation without forensic supports.

The Board ordered a continuation of the detention disposition with added privileges for community passes.

The Ontario Review Board held a Restriction of Liberties hearing after the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for several offences, was readmitted to the hospital following a relapse into methamphetamine use.

The hospital notified the Board of the significant increase in the restriction of the accused's liberties.

Based on a joint submission and evidence from the attending psychiatrist, the Board found that the initial and ongoing restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive option available to manage the increased risk.