Lauren Barney

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 Ontario Review Board held an early hearing to determine whether the accused, previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges including unlawful entry and assault, was now fit.

Based on a joint submission and expert psychiatric evidence indicating that the accused's schizophrenia had stabilized with treatment, the Board found that he could now make and communicate reality-based decisions and meaningfully participate in his trial.

The Board ordered the accused returned to Court for a determination of his fitness, while remaining subject to his current detention disposition.

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

The accused, who has a long-standing diagnosis of schizophrenia, sought an absolute discharge.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continued detention order with expanded geographical conditions to facilitate housing searches.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, noting her lack of insight, history of medication non-compliance, and risk of decompensation and violence if unhoused and unmedicated.

A detention order was issued with the amended conditions requested by the hospital.

George Veerman, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder in 2008, underwent his mandatory annual review before the Ontario Review Board.

The Board assessed whether he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety under s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code.

While Mr. Veerman remained stable in the community under a conditional discharge, the Board noted his limited insight into his schizophrenia and recent concerns regarding his cannabis use.

The Board concluded that he remained a significant threat and ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge to ensure close monitoring by his treatment team.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for mischief and animal cruelty.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia, had made positive progress and remained stable on medication but continued to lack insight into his mental illness and the index offences.

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

A continuation of the existing Detention Order was ordered as the necessary and appropriate disposition, being the least onerous and least restrictive option.

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

The accused had maintained stability in the community, secured full-time employment, and adhered to his medication regimen.

However, the Board found that his stability was highly contingent on ongoing forensic and clinical supports, and he continued to struggle with limited insight, financial instability, and psychosocial stressors, including a recent deportation order.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and related offences.

The accused, diagnosed with Schizophrenia, had been living in the community under a Detention Order.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the Detention Order, while the accused sought a Conditional Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight, ongoing delusional beliefs, and lack of professional community supports.

The Board concluded that a continuation of the Detention Order was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, as it allows the hospital to quickly readmit the accused in the event of decompensation or substance use.

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

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to a chronic psychotic disorder, comorbid substance use, and limited insight.

The Board concluded that a continuation of the existing Detention Order was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, as the hospital requires the ability to manage his risk and return him to the hospital if he decompensates.

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

The accused sought a conditional discharge with a term allowing moderate alcohol consumption.

The Hospital and Attorney General sought to continue the existing detention order.

The Board accepted the uncontradicted psychiatric evidence that the accused's schizophrenia and substance use disorder require ongoing hospital supervision, and that any alcohol consumption would significantly increase his risk of violence.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and concluded that continuing the detention order without changes is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences, including uttering threats and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The accused sought a Conditional Discharge, while the Hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the existing Detention Order.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, primarily due to his escalating cannabis use, lack of insight, and history of non-compliance and reoffending while on prior discharges.

The Board concluded that a Conditional Discharge would not adequately manage the risk and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder due to a substance-induced psychotic episode.

The Board considered expert evidence indicating the accused had recently relapsed into substance use, though without psychotic symptoms.

Applying the factors under s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code, the Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with an added condition permitting attendance at an approved residential treatment program.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been compliant with treatment and substance-free in the hospital setting but exhibited stress and hesitation regarding community reintegration.

Relying on the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition, finding it necessary and appropriate to manage the risk of rapid decompensation while supporting gradual community reintegration.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for various offences, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The hospital psychiatrist testified that the accused's psychosis was likely cannabis-induced, that she had been living independently and asymptomatically for 18 months, and that she posed a very low risk.

All parties jointly recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board agreed that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety and granted an absolute discharge.

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

The accused, diagnosed with delusional disorder, had recently transitioned to supported community living and was making positive progress.

However, he continued to have limited insight into his illness and residual delusional beliefs.

Applying the Winko test, the Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order without amendment.

The Hospital requested an early hearing before the Ontario Review Board to modify the privileges of an accused found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a conveyance.

The Hospital recommended adding international travel privileges and removing the driving prohibition from the Disposition.

The Board denied the international travel request, finding more time was needed to assess the accused's stability given his history of cannabis use and bipolar disorder.

However, the Board granted the removal of the driving prohibition, accepting expert evidence that the accused's risk of driving while manic could be managed without the prohibition and that driving was necessary for his employment and childcare responsibilities.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges of an indecent act and failing to comply with probation.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial disposition hearing.

Based on the evidence of the attending psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused lacks a reality-based understanding of the court process due to schizoaffective disorder and remains unfit to stand trial.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with gradual privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and restrictive disposition necessary to protect the public while providing treatment.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for three counts of assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been compliant with medication and exhibited no aggressive behaviours in the hospital setting over the past year.

However, the attending psychiatrist opined that the accused still lacked insight and posed a risk of decompensation and violence if exposed to unstructured community stress and substance use.

Applying the frameworks from Winko and Ramos, the Board concluded the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual hearing for an accused found NCR for weapons and assault offences, who is currently subject to a Conditional Discharge.

The Hospital and the accused jointly recommended removing the condition prohibiting substance use to test his ability to abstain or moderate consumption in the community before a potential future Absolute Discharge.

The Crown opposed the removal, citing the accused's history of substance-induced violence.

Applying the Ramos and Winko frameworks, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but concluded that removing the prohibition clause was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition, allowing the treatment team to monitor his coping skills and intervene if his mental status deteriorates.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review hearing.

The hospital and the Crown sought a continuation of his Conditional Discharge Disposition, while the accused sought an Absolute Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to suffer from schizophrenia with residual religious delusions and lacks insight into his illness.

Relying on the evidence of his attending psychiatrist and family concerns regarding medication non-compliance, the Board concluded that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge Disposition with no changes to its terms.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault and failing to comply with probation.

The accused sought a conditional discharge, while the Hospital and Crown sought a continuation of the detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing substance use, lack of insight, and the need for 24/7 supportive housing.

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