M.C. Bebee

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for causing a disturbance and disarming a peace officer.

The accused, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder and a severe substance use disorder, requested a conditional discharge.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended maintaining the current detention order.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to her brittle mental illness and recent periods of decompensation despite medication adherence.

The Board concluded that a detention order at a general forensic unit remains the necessary and appropriate disposition, as the hospital requires the ability to approve and monitor her housing to manage her risk.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for various offences including robbery with a weapon.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living successfully in the community under a conditional discharge.

Based on psychiatric evidence that the accused was in full remission, highly compliant with medication, and posed a low risk of violent re-offending, all parties jointly submitted that he should be absolutely discharged.

The Board concluded the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety and ordered an absolute discharge.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for causing a disturbance, disarming a peace officer, and failing to comply with probation.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder and severe polysubstance abuse disorder, continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered that the accused be detained on a General Forensic Unit at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, in accordance with the joint submission of the parties.