Natalie C. MacDonald

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review.

The Board found that he continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his brittle psychotic illness, lack of insight, and history of medication noncompliance.

Despite a positive year and adherence to medication, the Board concluded a detention order remains necessary to manage the stressors of his return to university and to ensure the hospital can approve his residence and intervene quickly if his mental health deteriorates.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing under s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and forcible confinement.

The accused had been abstinent from cannabis, which was a major trigger for his psychosis, and was living safely in the community with his family.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to diagnostic uncertainty and the recency of his transfer to a new treatment team.

However, the Board concluded that a conditional discharge was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for violent offences, was subject to a conditional discharge.

Following the removal of an abstinence clause, he resumed consuming large amounts of cannabis and alcohol, leading to decompensation, paranoid delusions, and sexually inappropriate behaviour.

He voluntarily returned to the hospital.

The hospital and Crown sought a detention order with an abstinence clause, while the accused sought to maintain the conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that a conditional discharge is insufficient to manage his risk.

The Board ordered a detention order with conditions including absolute abstinence from alcohol and cannabis.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused is currently detained at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

All parties agreed that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his diagnoses of schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder, as well as his history of violence and non-compliance.

The Board ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order with privileges, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to protect the public while supporting his reintegration.

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

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and schizoid personality disorder.

However, noting his significant progress, medication compliance, and successful transition to a supervised group home, the Board accepted a joint submission for a Conditional Discharge.

The disposition includes conditions that he reside in a private room in supervised supportive housing associated with Durham Mental Health Services.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and referred to the Ontario Review Board.

The Board held a hearing to determine whether the accused posed a significant threat to public safety and the appropriate disposition.

The accused suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia and has a history of nonadherence to medication, leading to disorganized and aggressive behaviour.

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

The Board ordered that the accused be detained within the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, with privileges and prohibitions including abstaining from substance use.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for arson and assaulting peace officers.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine his disposition.

The Board found that the accused, who has a history of bipolar disorder, medication nonadherence, and substance use, poses a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered his detention on the General Forensic Unit at Ontario Shores, with privileges to live in the community in approved accommodation, and imposed prohibitions including a ban on possessing incendiary devices.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's conditional discharge disposition.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for dangerous operation causing death, requested the removal of a substance prohibition clause from his disposition.

The Board accepted the hospital's psychiatric evidence that the accused's complex neurological and psychiatric diagnoses made him highly vulnerable to destabilization from substance use.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the substance prohibition clause intact.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, has schizophrenia and recently transitioned to a supervised group home in the community.

Based on the hospital's evidence and the joint position of the parties, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition to ensure the hospital maintains the ability to approve accommodation and manage the accused's risk.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault and breach of probation.

The accused is diagnosed with schizophrenia, cannabis use disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.

Despite making steady progress with treatment and remaining compliant with medication, the accused incurred new criminal charges involving an imitation firearm while at a group home.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused would pose a very high risk for physical violence if he stopped his medication and resumed substance use.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Disposition.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been living in the community under a Detention Disposition.

The Board found that the accused continued to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his brittle psychiatric illness and history of violence.

However, noting his medication compliance and stability in a highly supported complex care home, the Board ordered a Conditional Discharge with strict conditions, including a specific residency requirement at his current supportive housing facility.

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

The accused had been living in the community but was readmitted to the hospital after stopping his antipsychotic medication, experiencing psychotic symptoms, and being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the readmission was necessary to manage his risk.

The Board found that the restriction of liberty was appropriate and that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The existing disposition was continued without a driving prohibition clause.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found unfit to stand trial on charges of sexual assault and assault.

The accused, who has severe autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability, is largely non-verbal and requires a high level of supervision.

The Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial, likely permanently, and continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to behavioural instability and aggression.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order with an added privilege permitting indirectly supervised community access to facilitate specialized programming.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for arson and other offences.

The Board unanimously found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his major mental illness, poor insight, and ongoing psychotic symptoms.

The Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital but expanded his supervised pass privileges from 24 to 72 hours.

A majority of the Board amended the disposition to allow the accused to smoke cigars off hospital grounds where permitted, while maintaining the prohibition against possessing any other incendiary devices, including lighters or matches.

Two members dissented, finding that he should only be permitted to smoke cigars under direct supervision.

The accused, previously found unfit to stand trial on three charges of assault, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The hospital brought a preliminary application to withhold certain disposition information from the accused, which the Board granted.

On the central issue of fitness, the accused's psychiatrist testified that the accused now understands the nature and object of court proceedings and can communicate with counsel.

All parties agreed the accused was fit.

The Board found the accused fit to stand trial and ordered him returned to court, noting the court's jurisdiction to make a Keep Fit Order.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for various offences, was subject to a mandatory annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The Hospital and the Attorney General recommended maintaining her current detention disposition, which the accused supported.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to her schizoaffective disorder and the risk of medication non-compliance if discharged.

The Board ordered a continued detention disposition but increased her community pass travel radius to 300 kilometres to facilitate family visits.

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.

Harley Hill, previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual disposition review.

The hospital and Attorney General sought a continued detention order, arguing he remained a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia and need for supervised medication management.

The accused's counsel argued he no longer posed a significant threat and should be managed in the community.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence, finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat, and ordered his continued detention with privileges to transition to community living when appropriate.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an early review of the accused's disposition following his decompensation and readmission to the hospital.

The hospital requested the hearing to reinstate a prohibition on cannabis use, arguing it was necessary for the accused's stability and rehabilitation.

The Board accepted the joint submission and expert psychiatric evidence, finding that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered his continued detention at the hospital with a strict prohibition on all illicit substances, including cannabis, to provide external motivation for his recovery.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review of the accused's conditional discharge disposition.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, has a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

While she had a generally successful year living independently and maintaining employment, she incurred a new charge for breaching a no-contact condition and purchased a vehicle without consulting her treatment team.

The Board found that she continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to her limited insight and potential for rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of her conditional discharge.