Lauren Barney

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and other offences, appeared for an annual review of his Disposition.

He is diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Substance Use Disorder.

Despite recent progress and a discharge to the community, he relapsed to crystal methamphetamine and cocaine use, requiring readmission to the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board found that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his vulnerability to stressors, history of medication noncompliance, and risk of substance relapse.

The Board concluded that a Conditional Discharge was inappropriate and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order to allow the hospital to retain oversight and rapidly readmit him if necessary.

The hospital requested a Restriction of Liberty hearing after readmitting the accused, who is subject to a Detention Order, due to life-threatening hyperglycemia and inability to self-manage his Type 2 diabetes in the community.

The accused argued the restriction was unwarranted as his mental state remained stable.

The Ontario Review Board found that both the initial and ongoing restrictions of liberty were necessary, appropriate, and the least onerous and least restrictive measures, given the severe health risks, potential for psychiatric decompensation, and the loss of his community housing.

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 an annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of uttering threats and forcible confinement.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continued to experience grandiose delusions and believed his charges were resolved.

Applying the Supreme Court's recent decision in Bharwani, the Board found the accused remained unfit to stand trial.

The Board also found he continued to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the hospital, but granted an expansion of privileges to include indirectly supervised community passes, subject to mental state monitoring and random drug screening.

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

The accused has diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders, and has a history of violent conduct while under the Board's jurisdiction.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, as he would likely become non-compliant with medication and relapse into substance use without supervision.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention disposition, denying the accused's request to amend the disposition to allow the use of cannabis under medical supervision.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to readmit the accused and restrict his liberties following a positive urine drug screen for methamphetamines.

The accused, who has a history of substance-induced psychosis and schizophrenia, denied substance use and alleged his urine samples were tampered with.

The Board found the accused's testimony lacked credibility and upheld the hospital's decision, concluding that the readmission and ongoing restriction of liberties were warranted and represented the least restrictive means to stabilize his mental state and manage his risk to public safety.

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

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and an unspecified paraphilic disorder, and continues to exhibit sexually inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties and the uncontroverted evidence of the attending psychiatrist that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition at the hospital, finding it necessary to manage her risk while efforts continue to find appropriate community housing.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not guilty by reason of insanity for second-degree murder in 1987.

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, sought an independent housing assessment, arguing a residential impasse existed under the Shortt framework.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of decompensation and violence if unmedicated.

The Board renewed the detention disposition but expanded the geographic scope for supervised community accommodation to all of Southern Ontario, finding that an independent housing assessment was currently unwarranted given the hospital's ongoing placement efforts.

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

The accused, diagnosed with Delusional Disorder, had made significant progress and was compliant with antipsychotic medication.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to marginal insight and the risk of relapse if untreated.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order but added privileges for community living and indirectly supervised passes to facilitate gradual reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault and assaulting a police officer.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had a history of medication noncompliance and violence when unwell.

Although his condition improved significantly after starting Clozapine, he continued to exhibit residual disorganization, mild paranoia, and limited insight.

The Board accepted the medical evidence that the accused would likely discontinue medication and deteriorate rapidly without the supervision of the forensic service.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for arson and possession of an incendiary device, underwent an annual Review Board hearing.

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

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his untreated schizophrenia, lack of insight, medication refusal, and recent verbal altercations.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order, concluding it was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault and uttering threats, was subject to a detention disposition.

The hospital sought a renewal of the detention order, arguing that the accused's cannabis use posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused had been consistently compliant with his antipsychotic medication and had not exhibited violent behaviour since the index offences, even when using cannabis.

The Board concluded that the evidence linking his cannabis use to a substantial risk of serious harm was speculative.

Finding that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to the safety of the public, the Board granted an absolute discharge.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible and discharged to a community residence, failed to return to his residence after a hospital visit for a physical illness.

He was found in another city and returned to the forensic psychiatry program, where he was highly agitated and required seclusion and restraints.

The hospital held a restriction of liberty hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code.

The Ontario Review Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the return to hospital and ongoing detention were warranted and represented the least onerous and least restrictive decision consistent with public safety.

The hospital requested an early review of the accused's Conditional Discharge Disposition after he eloped from the hospital and his mental health deteriorated due to medication non-compliance.

The accused, who has a diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder and a history of unprovoked violence, experienced a psychotic decompensation requiring involuntary admission and seclusion.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a Detention Order Disposition, as his risk could no longer be safely managed in the community.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, underwent an annual review by the Ontario Review Board.

Following a period of stability, the accused's behaviour severely deteriorated, resulting in assaults, threats to kill hospital staff, and the need for mechanical restraints and seclusion.

The treatment team recommended an urgent transfer to a maximum secure facility.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to emotional dysregulation, treatment non-compliance, and aggressive behaviour.

The Board ordered the accused's transfer to a high secure facility under a Detention Order, concluding it was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition available to manage the acute risk.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of liberties of an accused found not criminally responsible, following his assault on a co-patient.

The hospital had placed the accused in seclusion and gradually restored his privileges over a month.

The Board found that the restrictions on the accused's liberties were significant but necessary and appropriate to monitor his mental state and ensure the safety of the co-patient.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for break and enter with intent, underwent an annual Review Board hearing.

The hospital and Attorney General recommended maintaining his detention at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton with slight amendments to community privileges, while retaining a prohibition on substance use.

The accused requested the removal of the cannabis prohibition.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his schizoaffective disorder, cannabis use disorder, and lack of insight.

The Board ordered his continued detention with the agreed-upon privilege amendments, concluding that removing the cannabis prohibition would be premature and increase his risk of relapse and violence.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine whether the accused, previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges, remained unfit.

Based on the evidence of her treating psychiatrist, the accused's mental status had stabilized following medication optimization and abstinence from substances.

The Board found the accused was now able to understand the nature of the proceedings, the roles of court officers, and instruct counsel.

The Board concluded the accused was fit to stand trial and ordered her returned to court, remaining detained at the hospital in the interim.

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

The accused, who has diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, had been detained at a forensic psychiatry program.

Based on a joint submission, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of mental deterioration and violent acting out if not properly supported.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order with discretionary privileges to allow for a gradual, supported transition to community living.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder and criminal negligence causing death.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorders, and a history of decompensation and non-compliance when granted increased liberty in the community.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his mental illness, substance use, lack of insight, and antisocial attitudes.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order, including a transfer to a different mental health centre.