Michael Feindel

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences due to schizophrenia.

The hospital and Crown argued the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and sought a Detention Order or continuation of the Conditional Discharge, while the accused sought an Absolute Discharge.

The Board found that despite a stable year in the community, the accused's profound lack of insight into his illness and the likelihood of medication non-compliance and rapid decompensation meant he remained a significant threat.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge, removing only the urinalysis condition.

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

The hospital and the Crown sought a continuation of the Detention Order, while the accused sought a Conditional Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to a severe psychotic disorder, recent decompensation following a reduction in medication, and a history of aggression.

The Board concluded that the risk could not be properly managed under a Conditional Discharge and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order to ensure the treatment team could maintain the accused in high-support housing and rapidly readmit him if necessary.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual and Restriction of Liberty hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for uttering death threats.

The accused had been living in the community but was returned to the hospital due to risky and escalating behaviour, including lying on public streets.

The Board found that the return to the hospital was warranted and represented the least onerous and least restrictive decision available.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order, specifying that the accused be detained on a General Forensic Unit.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for break and enter and prowl by night.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, did not attend the hearing but was represented by counsel.

The hospital, the Attorney General, and the accused jointly recommended a continuation of the conditional discharge.

The Board accepted the evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, noting his history of non-compliance and prior offences, but found that the risk could be managed in the community under the existing conditions.

The conditional discharge was continued.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and other offences.

At his initial hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the Board found that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board ordered a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with a provision allowing community living in approved accommodation, in accordance with the joint submission of the parties.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to experience paranoia and cognitive deficits.

The hospital recommended continuing the detention order with community living privileges, while removing the abstinence clause.

The Crown and Amicus supported this recommendation.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the detention order with the recommended amendments, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the conditional discharge of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The treating psychiatrist testified that while the accused's mental state is currently stable on anti-psychotic medication, he lacks insight into his illness, continues to use cannabis, and would likely decompensate and pose a risk of violence if granted an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted this evidence, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge.

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

The hospital and Crown sought to maintain the current detention order with minor corrections, while the accused sought a conditional discharge.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused suffers from a brittle illness and is highly sensitive to medication changes and stress.

Finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and requires careful housing progression, the Board ordered that the detention order be maintained.

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

The accused had been living independently in the community without incident since 2021 and demonstrated sustained remission of symptoms, strong insight, and strict medication compliance.

The hospital and the accused sought an absolute discharge, and the Crown did not oppose.

The Board concluded 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 found not criminally responsible for murder due to schizophrenia.

The accused had recently eloped from the hospital and was found with cannabis, setting back his progress.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to community safety and ordered the continuation of his detention order at CAMH Forensic Services.

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

The accused has a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type I and a history of manic episodes with psychotic features.

While the accused had made considerable progress and was discharged to live with his parents, the Board found that he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

With the agreement of all parties, the Board ordered a continuation of the Detention Order with privileges up to and including living in the community in approved accommodation.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for assault and attempted kidnapping, suffers from delusional disorder and remains stable on antipsychotic medication.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted expert evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, largely because he would discontinue his medication if not supervised.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the same conditions, denying the accused's request to reduce his reporting frequency.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, had been living in the community under a detention order but continued to use cannabis daily and had a recent altercation with his daughter.

Relying on uncontroverted psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with an added condition for more frequent reporting to effectively manage his risk in the community.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and uttering threats.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, arguing he no longer posed a significant threat due to his physical limitations from ALS.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the detention order with a minor amendment to reporting frequency.

Relying on expert psychiatric evidence that the accused lacked insight and would likely relapse into substance use and discontinue medication without oversight, the Board found the accused remained a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for four counts of assault in 2013.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, has been living in a high-support community residence under a conditional discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to her chronic mental illness, limited insight, and need for a highly structured environment to manage her behaviours and supervise medication.

The Board ordered that the current conditional discharge disposition continue without change.

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

The accused, a young adult with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, exhibited medication non-compliance, lack of engagement in programming, and had recently absconded from the hospital.

The treatment team recommended maintaining the current detention order with privileges up to community living, which the Crown and the accused supported.

The Board found the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and ordered that the current disposition be maintained without change, emphasizing the need for medication compliance and engagement in treatment.

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

The Board found the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his history of violence, medication non-adherence, and substance use.

The Board accepted a joint submission to expand the detention order to include the privilege of residing in the community in approved accommodation, but denied the accused's request for a travel provision due to insufficient evidence and the need to monitor his transition to the community.

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

The accused was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of sexual assault and is detained at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial due to treatment-refractory schizophrenia and cognitive deficits.

Finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, the Board ordered the current disposition of detention with community privileges to be continued without change.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had recently transitioned to a 24-hour supervised community residence and demonstrated sustained psychiatric stability on medication.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to the conditional nature of his stability and the severity of the index offence.

The Board ordered a continued detention order with privileges for supervised community living and a reduction in reporting frequency, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and opioid use disorder.

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

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board ordered a Detention Order with the privilege of indirectly supervised passes into the community, finding this to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage the risk while supporting reintegration.