Michael Baltzan Schloss

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault due to a psychotic disorder caused by a medical condition.

The Board heard evidence that the accused's medical condition had been resolved by surgery and her substance use disorder was in remission.

Finding that the accused had demonstrated significant stability in the community and no longer posed a significant threat to public safety, the Board granted an absolute discharge.

The hospital requested a Restriction of Liberty hearing after readmitting the accused, who is subject to a Detention Order, due to life-threatening hyperglycemia and inability to self-manage his Type 2 diabetes in the community.

The accused argued the restriction was unwarranted as his mental state remained stable.

The Ontario Review Board found that both the initial and ongoing restrictions of liberty were necessary, appropriate, and the least onerous and least restrictive measures, given the severe health risks, potential for psychiatric decompensation, and the loss of his community housing.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and polysubstance use disorder, had a successful reporting year with no incidents of violence and remained compliant with medication.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to residual psychotic symptoms and a history of substance use.

However, the Board amended the disposition to permit the accused's transfer to a General Forensic Unit and to allow indirectly supervised community passes, adopting a cautious, stepwise approach to reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault of a peace officer and other offences, following his transfer from British Columbia to Ontario.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, history of violence, severe substance abuse, and partial insight.

The Board ordered his continued detention at Ontario Shores, with increased community access passes to facilitate family visits and discharge planning.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not guilty by reason of insanity for second-degree murder in 1987.

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, sought an independent housing assessment, arguing a residential impasse existed under the Shortt framework.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of decompensation and violence if unmedicated.

The Board renewed the detention disposition but expanded the geographic scope for supervised community accommodation to all of Southern Ontario, finding that an independent housing assessment was currently unwarranted given the hospital's ongoing placement efforts.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the detention order, while the accused sought an absolute discharge or a community treatment order.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, experiences ongoing symptoms of schizophrenia, and would likely stop taking medication if discharged, the Board ordered the accused's continued detention in a Secure Forensic Unit.

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

The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly submitted that he remains a significant threat to public safety but has made progress in his treatment for schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding the accused continues to pose a significant threat, and ordered his continued detention at the forensic hospital with additional privileges to facilitate his rehabilitation.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine the appropriate disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for mischief.

The accused's treatment team reported a positive year with improved insight, though he continues to experience fluctuations in his mental state.

All parties made a joint submission recommending a conditional discharge with a treatment clause.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but that his risk can be managed in the community on a conditional discharge.

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

Following a period of stability, the accused's behaviour severely deteriorated, resulting in assaults, threats to kill hospital staff, and the need for mechanical restraints and seclusion.

The treatment team recommended an urgent transfer to a maximum secure facility.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to emotional dysregulation, treatment non-compliance, and aggressive behaviour.

The Board ordered the accused's transfer to a high secure facility under a Detention Order, concluding it was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition available to manage the acute risk.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of liberties of an accused found not criminally responsible, following his assault on a co-patient.

The hospital had placed the accused in seclusion and gradually restored his privileges over a month.

The Board found that the restrictions on the accused's liberties were significant but necessary and appropriate to monitor his mental state and ensure the safety of the co-patient.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, was discharged to the community but readmitted to the hospital after breaching his community plan, including substance use and failing to attend appointments.

The hospital notified the Ontario Review Board of the restriction of liberty.

The Board held a hearing and found that the significant increase in the restriction of the accused's liberty was necessary, appropriate, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive measure to manage his risk to public safety.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General proposed continuing the current disposition, which detained the accused at the hospital with privileges up to living in the community.

The accused requested a modification to allow indirectly supervised travel passes to Nova Scotia.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused lacked the organization to travel alone, noting a recent elopement and cannabis use.

Finding that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety, the Board ordered the continuation of the disposition without change.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, was living in the community under a Detention Disposition.

Following an incident where he crossed boundaries with a female co-worker and was terminated from his employment, the hospital readmitted him, significantly restricting his liberty.

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

Accepting the joint submission of the parties, the Board found that the initial and ongoing restriction of liberty was necessary, appropriate, and represented the least onerous and least restrictive measure to manage the accused's risk to the public.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and assault with a weapon.

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia, sought an absolute discharge.

The hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge but removing substance prohibition clauses.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to experience fluctuating delusions, lacks insight, and would likely disengage from treatment if discharged absolutely, the Board found he remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a continued conditional discharge with the removal of the substance prohibition and Young clauses.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, sought a conditional discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing his detention order.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and requires the structure, supervision, and medication management provided under a detention order.

The Board concluded that a detention order remains the necessary and appropriate disposition and denied the request for a conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon.

The accused has schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, with recent incidents of absconding to secure substances.

The hospital proposed maintaining the current Detention Order with privileges, focusing on anti-craving medication and a potential residential treatment program.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and the current Disposition is the least onerous and least restrictive means to manage his risk.

The hospital requested a Restriction of Liberty hearing after the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, had his hospital privileges cancelled due to agitation, threats, and an assault on a co-patient.

The accused was subsequently placed in seclusion and then a locked room protocol.

The Ontario Review Board found that the hospital's actions in restricting the accused's liberty, including the withdrawal of privileges and placement in a locked room, were necessary, appropriate, and the least restrictive course of action given his escalating risk, history of violence, and substance use relapse.

The Board noted the hospital's failure to notify it of the increased restrictions but upheld the ongoing restrictions.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for violent offences including first-degree murder.

The hospital recommended transferring the accused from a high secure to a medium secure facility.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted medical evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but has stabilized on medication.

The Board ordered the transfer to the medium secure facility with strict conditions, including a requirement to notify the victims if the accused goes AWOL.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and related offences.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and a cannabis use disorder, and experiences treatment-resistant delusional beliefs.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his lack of insight, stated intention to discontinue medication, and risk of resuming cannabis use.

The Board concluded that a Conditional Discharge was inadequate to manage his risk and ordered a continued Detention Order with unchanged terms to support his gradual transition to community living.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences.

The accused had been living in an independent apartment, remained abstinent from substances, and complied with his medication regimen.

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

The Board agreed, noting the accused's sustained progress, strong family support, and a robust community support plan including a Community Treatment Order.

The accused was granted an absolute discharge.