Lauren Barney

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

The accused had successfully transitioned into the community but suffered from a lack of motivation and had missed some medication doses, leading to a brief hospital readmission.

The Board found that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge, with the removal of a specific residence clause.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for robbery and other offences in 2013.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had recently been discharged to live with family in the community but remained subject to a detention order.

The accused requested the removal of the prohibition on alcohol and cannabis use.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that a continuation of the detention order with the same conditions, including the substance prohibition, is necessary and appropriate to manage the risk.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and failure to comply with a probation order.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, did not attend the hearing.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing psychotic symptoms, lack of insight, and treatment incapability.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order at the hospital without change to its terms.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment.

The Board found that the accused, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing symptoms, limited insight, and a moderate risk of violence.

The Board ordered the continuation of his conditional discharge, but removed the condition prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating substances, as substance use was no longer deemed a risk factor.

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

The accused had been living in the community under a conditional discharge, maintaining full compliance with treatment, sustained abstinence from substances, and full-time employment.

The hospital, the accused, and the Attorney General jointly submitted that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Board agreed, finding that the accused's schizophrenia was well-managed with no active psychotic symptoms, and granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and a restriction of liberty review for an accused found not criminally responsible for threatening to burn property, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and assault.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and a history of substance use, was readmitted to the hospital after a breach of his disposition.

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

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order but amended the conditions to permit the use of cannabis obtained from licensed dispensaries, accepting the treatment team's opinion that this would allow for safe monitoring of his mental state.

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

The accused, who has treatment-resistant schizophrenia, was previously found not criminally responsible for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and aggravated assault of a peace officer.

The parties jointly submitted that the detention order should be maintained with minor changes to privileges.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that a detention order remains the necessary and appropriate disposition.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been stable in hospital but struggled with a transition to supported community housing.

The Board accepted uncontradicted psychiatric evidence that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing delusional ideation and a history of medication non-compliance.

The Board maintained the detention order but removed a previous restriction on the accused's communication with his mother, finding it no longer necessary.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, requested an absolute or conditional discharge.

The hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to experience entrenched grandiose delusions, lacks insight into his illness, and relies on external controls to maintain medication adherence.

Concluding that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public, the Board ordered the continuation of the detention order.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had shown clinical stability and improved insight following a medication change.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the detention order, but expanded his community pass privileges to Southern Ontario as recommended by the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to review the conditional discharge of the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living in the community but continued to experience breakthrough symptoms and required assistance with social boundaries.

The treating psychiatrist recommended continuing the conditional discharge but removing the specific residence requirement to allow the accused to move to a residential care facility.

The Board found that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight and risk of relapse if unsupervised, and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the requested modification.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for violent offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living independently in the community, maintaining full-time employment, and demonstrating excellent insight and strict adherence to his long-acting antipsychotic medication.

Relying on the unanimous recommendation of the treatment team and the parties, the Board concluded that the accused's illness was in sustained remission and he no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The accused was granted an absolute discharge.

The hospital requested an early hearing to review the accused's disposition, asserting he was now fit to stand trial.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing and, based on expert psychiatric evidence, found that the accused's schizophrenia symptoms had improved and he could meaningfully participate in his criminal proceedings.

The Board ordered the accused returned to court and issued a Keep Fit Order to ensure his stability is maintained at the hospital pending trial.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, and robbery.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, had made progress and was preparing to transition to a supported residence in the community.

Relying on the uncontroverted expert evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety, as his ability to remain abstinent and manage stress in the community remains untested.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order as the necessary and appropriate disposition.

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

The hospital and the accused jointly recommended a Conditional Discharge, while the Attorney General recommended continuing the Detention Order.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, citing an unexplained incident where the accused received over 800 excess Ativan pills and ongoing financial stressors.

The Board rejected the joint recommendation for a Conditional Discharge and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault and breach of probation.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder, sought an absolute discharge.

Relying on the uncontroverted expert evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused lacks insight into his condition and would likely discontinue medication and increase alcohol consumption if discharged absolutely.

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

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

Based on the testimony of the treating psychiatrist and the accused, the Board concluded that the accused remains unfit to stand trial but not permanently so.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to active psychosis and poor insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with added privileges, including indirectly supervised passes and the ability to live in the community in approved accommodation.

The accused was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including assaulting a peace officer and mischief.

At her initial hearing before the Ontario Review Board, evidence from her treating physician indicated she had made significant progress, understood the court process, and could meaningfully instruct counsel.

The Board accepted the uncontradicted medical evidence and the agreement of all parties, finding the accused fit to stand trial.

The Board ordered her returned to court and issued a Keep Fit Order in the interim.

The appellant, who was found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and aggravated assault, appealed the Ontario Review Board's disposition continuing her detention order.

She sought an absolute discharge.

The Court of Appeal found the Board's decision reasonable, noting the appellant's severe and persistent mental illness, history of violence, treatment non-compliance, and substance use.

The Board correctly applied the legal tests to conclude she remained a significant threat to public safety and that a detention order was the least onerous and appropriate disposition.