Marie-Lise Dufort

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused who was previously found not criminally responsible for murder due to a severe mental disorder.

The Board received evidence that the accused's mental state had deteriorated, with a resurgence of paranoid delusions and a refusal to return to his previous long-term care residence.

Adopting a joint submission from the parties, the Board concluded that the accused continues to present a significant threat to public safety.

A detention order was issued, requiring the accused to remain in a 24-hour supervised hospital setting with strictly controlled community access.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for charges including criminal harassment, assault with a weapon, and break and enter.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine disposition.

Accepting a joint submission, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

The Board ordered a Detention Order at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre with privileges up to community living, including a non-communication order with the victim.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for harassment.

The accused, diagnosed with chronic relapsing schizophrenia, sought an absolute discharge.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended a conditional discharge, citing the accused's history of discontinuing medication and decompensating when previously granted an absolute discharge, as well as his recent disengagement from treatment.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a conditional discharge with monthly reporting as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, appeared for an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The Board found that the accused, who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia in partial remission, continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public.

While the accused has made positive progress in rehabilitation and is collaborating with his treatment team, he continues to experience residual symptoms.

The Board ordered the continuation of a detention order with privileges for community living in approved accommodation, adding travel passes and the ability to drive with prior hospital approval.

The Ontario Review Board held an early review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences, including break and enter and driving while prohibited.

The hospital sought to amend the accused's Detention Disposition to allow him to complete a six-month residential treatment program for severe substance use disorders.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and substance use issues.

The Board ordered a Detention Disposition with amended privileges, permitting the accused to reside at and participate in a residential treatment program in Ontario, while maintaining necessary oversight to protect the public.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for possession of a break-in instrument and break and enter.

The accused's attending psychiatrist testified that her schizophrenia was in full remission, she had developed insight into her illness, and she presented a low risk of future violence.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties 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 uttering death threats and breach of probation.

The accused's diagnoses include schizophrenia in partial remission.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, noting that absent a disposition, he would likely become non-compliant with medications and decompensate.

The Board ordered a detention disposition with privileges, including provisions for a potential travel pass to Italy with appropriate safeguards.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for assault and mischief offences committed against her husband during a postpartum psychotic episode.

At the disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board considered psychiatric evidence indicating that the accused's symptoms were in full remission, she had excellent insight, and she was compliant with treatment.

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

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for murder due to schizophrenia.

The hospital and the Attorney General submitted that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, citing recent substance use, rule violations, and drug-seeking behaviour, though noting recent improvements in cooperation.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered his continued detention at the hospital, while approving the hospital's recommendation for a graduated increase in community access privileges.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for arson and assault with a weapon, requested an early Ontario Review Board hearing to seek a transfer from the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre back to Ontario Shores.

The Board reviewed his history of unprovoked physical aggression, the previous treatment impasse at Ontario Shores, and his recent impulsive behaviour related to food restrictions at the Royal Ottawa.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and concluded that a transfer back to Ontario Shores was not necessary or appropriate at this early juncture.

The existing Detention Order at the Royal Ottawa was maintained.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for uttering threats and failing to attend court.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been living stably in a supportive residence, complying with long-acting injectable medication, and exhibiting no active psychotic symptoms or management problems.

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

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

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for assault causing bodily harm and possession of a weapon.

He appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition hearing.

The accused has a long-standing diagnosis of schizophrenia and a severe substance use disorder.

Following his release on bail, he absconded from a treatment facility and continued to consume hard drugs.

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

A detention order was issued to ensure the accused receives necessary psychiatric and addictions treatment in a secure forensic hospital unit.

La Commission ontarienne d'examen a tenu une audience d'examen annuel pour l'accusé, qui avait été déclaré non responsable criminellement de voies de fait avec arme et d'autres infractions.

L'hôpital et le procureur général ont soutenu que l'accusé continuait de représenter une menace importante pour la sécurité publique et nécessitait une ordonnance de détention, tandis que l'accusé demandait une libération inconditionnelle ou conditionnelle.

La Commission a conclu que l'accusé posait toujours une menace importante en raison de sa maladie mentale grave, de ses antécédents de toxicomanie et de son besoin de supervision pour assurer la prise de ses médicaments.

La Commission a ordonné le maintien de l'ordonnance de détention, tout en accordant des privilèges élargis en reconnaissance des progrès récents de l'accusé.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to restrict the liberty of an accused previously found not criminally responsible.

The accused had been readmitted to the hospital due to deteriorating mental health and medication non-compliance.

The Board found that the initial and ongoing restriction of liberty was warranted and necessary for public safety.

The Board also approved a joint submission to amend the accused's disposition, maintaining the detention order but adding provisions for travel passes and specific driving restrictions.

The Ontario Review Board held a restriction of liberty hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and mischief.

The accused, who has bipolar disorder, was readmitted to the hospital after becoming medication non-compliant in the community, leading to rapid mental decompensation and confrontational behaviour.

The Board found that both the initial and ongoing restrictions of the accused's liberty were necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive options available to manage the risk to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences, including assault with a weapon and robbery.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and polysubstance abuse disorder, had a history of fluctuating medication compliance and recent incidents of self-harm and rule violations.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public due to the risk of decompensation if medication is discontinued.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order Disposition with community living privileges in an accommodation approved by the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and indecent acts.

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the expert evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly when non-compliant with medication or using substances like cannabis.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with privileges for gradual community reintegration, subject to strict conditions prohibiting attendance at places where cannabis or alcohol are sold or consumed.

The accused, charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder, re-elected trial by judge alone.

The sole issue was whether the accused was Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) by virtue of a mental illness under section 16 of the Criminal Code.

Expert psychiatric evidence established that the accused suffered from psychosis due to schizophrenia, which rendered him incapable of appreciating the moral wrongfulness of his actions, despite knowing the physical nature and quality of the acts.

The court accepted the defence's burden and found the accused NCR.

The Crown applied to designate the respondent a dangerous offender following his convictions for sexual assault causing bodily harm, choking, and unlawful confinement.

The court reviewed the respondent's extensive criminal history, institutional behavior, and psychiatric assessments.

The court found that the respondent met the criteria for a dangerous offender designation due to a pattern of repetitive and persistent aggressive behavior.

However, noting some recent improvements and the possibility of managing his risk in the community, the court imposed a determinate sentence of 15 years and 9 months, followed by a 10-year long-term supervision order, rather than an indeterminate sentence.

The accused was charged with assault with a weapon (jailhouse shank), assault causing bodily harm, and aggravated assault following an altercation in the maximum security section of a detention centre.

The defence argued that two other inmates caused the complainant's injuries using pencils.

The court analyzed video evidence and found that neither inmate had a pencil.

The court concluded that the accused removed a wrapped object from his waistband, unwrapped it, and used it to slash the complainant across both cheeks, causing wounds.

The accused was convicted of all three charges.