Marie-Lise Dufort

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

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended a conditional discharge, noting the accused's medication compliance and diminished risk, while the accused's counsel sought an absolute discharge.

Applying the Winko threshold, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, as he would likely become non-compliant with medication and decompensate without a disposition.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge with a treatment clause under s. 672.55 of the Criminal Code, balancing public safety with the accused's reintegration needs.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault and uttering threats.

The hospital and the accused submitted that he no longer posed a significant threat to public safety, noting his three years of sobriety, stable mental state, and strong community support.

The Crown ultimately agreed.

Applying the Winko test, the Board found that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety and ordered an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for three counts of first-degree murder due to schizophrenia.

The hospital and the Crown recommended a continued detention order with reduced reporting requirements and the removal of substance testing conditions, to which the accused consented.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-resistant illness and risk of rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered continued detention with the recommended changes to allow for gradual community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and other offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, demonstrated ongoing medication non-compliance, lack of insight into his illness, and recently incurred new criminal convictions similar to his index offences.

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

A detention disposition with increased reporting requirements was ordered to manage his risk, while a request by the hospital for a driving prohibition was declined.

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

The accused had previously been found not criminally responsible for arson and criminal harassment following a substance-induced psychotic episode.

The hospital, the accused, and the Crown all agreed that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Board accepted the evidence that the accused was employed in the mental health field, abstinent from substances, and stable without medication.

The Board granted the accused an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and harassment.

The hospital and the Attorney-General jointly submitted that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety, citing his significant psychiatric improvement, partial remission of schizophrenia, and successful integration into the community.

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

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

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for weapons and mischief offences, suffers from schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

Following a period of decompensation and substance use in the community, his liberty was restricted and he was returned to the hospital.

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

A joint submission for a continued detention disposition with increased reporting requirements upon transition to the community was accepted as necessary and appropriate.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences, including failure to comply with bail conditions and mischief.

The accused, who has diagnoses of schizophrenia and intellectual disability, had been living in approved community accommodations and making progress.

However, the treatment team expressed concerns about his impulsivity, poor budgeting, and potential for decompensation if transitioned to independent living too quickly.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

A detention disposition with increased travel privileges was ordered to ensure public safety while supporting the accused's reintegration into the community.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder, was readmitted to the hospital due to an increase in delusional symptoms, constituting a significant restriction of his liberty.

The Ontario Review Board convened a hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code to review the restriction.

Based on the evidence and a joint submission from the parties, the Board found that the readmission was reasonable, warranted, and the least restrictive course of action available to manage the increased risk posed by the accused's symptoms.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition and a review of his restriction of liberties following his admission to the Forensic Assessment Unit.

The accused, who suffers from Huntington's Disease, Bipolar Disorder, and Alcohol Use Disorder, had been displaying erratic and threatening behaviour in his community residence.

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

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with community living in a 24-hour supervised accommodation and confirmed that the restriction of his liberties was necessary and appropriate.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review and initial hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple offences, including assault and impaired driving.

The accused, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, had a history of rapid decompensation and non-compliance with medication.

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

A detention order was maintained, with privileges including domestic and foreign travel, provided the accused adhered to a long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment regimen.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and initial hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple offences, including assault and robbery.

The accused, diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, experienced rapid decompensation and hypomanic episodes when non-compliant with medication.

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

A detention disposition was ordered, with privileges for domestic travel to support his employment, and international travel conditional on compliance with a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, has a history of rapid decompensation when non-compliant with medication.

The Board accepted the joint submission that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety.

A detention disposition was ordered as necessary and appropriate to ensure public safety and meet the accused's treatment needs.

The Board declined to grant international travel privileges due to the risk of decompensation without adequate family support for medication compliance, but removed substance use conditions as there was no evidence of substance abuse.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of the accused's liberties following her readmission to the hospital.

The accused, who has schizoaffective disorder, had stopped taking her medication while living in the community, leading to a deterioration in her mental state and alleged assaults on hospital staff in Quebec.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the hospital's decision to readmit and detain the accused was warranted, reasonable, and the least onerous option available until suitable community accommodation could be arranged.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing and an initial hearing on new charges for an accused previously found not criminally responsible (NCR) for criminal harassment and other offences.

The accused, who has schizophrenia, had been living in the community under a detention order but was readmitted to the hospital after a decompensation led to new criminal harassment charges, for which he was again found NCR.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention order, finding it necessary and appropriate to protect the public while facilitating the accused's reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for several offences including robbery and harassment.

The accused has a history of bipolar disorder, substance use, and medication noncompliance.

While the accused has made positive progress recently, including engaging in therapy and maintaining sobriety for periods, he experienced multiple relapses into cocaine use during the review period.

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

A detention disposition with increased travel privileges was ordered as necessary and appropriate to manage his risk while supporting his reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for various offences including assault and uttering threats.

The accused's attending psychiatrist testified that the accused had maintained sobriety, completed addictions programming, and demonstrated insight into his schizoaffective disorder.

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

The Board accepted the joint submission and granted the accused an absolute discharge.

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

The accused had been living in the community, complying with his long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication, and abstaining from substances.

The Hospital, the Attorney General, and the accused presented a joint submission that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board accepted the joint submission and granted the accused an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review a restriction of liberties for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused was evicted from his approved accommodation following an unprovoked assault on a co-patient and transferred to a forensic assessment unit, resulting in a restriction of liberties exceeding seven days.

The Board found that the restriction was justified and necessary, and that it represented the least onerous and least restrictive option available to the hospital given the accused's high needs, lack of insight, and the unavailability of suitable community housing.

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

Although an absolute discharge had been anticipated, the accused recently suffered a manic episode requiring hospitalization.

The Board accepted the joint submission that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

Applying the factors under section 672.54 of the Criminal Code, the Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a conditional discharge.