Natalie C. MacDonald

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and failure to comply with probation.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, arguing he no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge with the removal of certain clauses.

Relying on the attending psychiatrist's evidence that the accused experienced residual psychotic symptoms and required structured support for medication compliance, the Board found the accused continued to pose a significant threat.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge with the removal of the treatment and residence clauses.

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 multiple violent offences.

While AWOL from the hospital, the accused relapsed into substance use and sent sexually violent and threatening emails to his treating psychiatrist.

The Board found that the restriction of liberty was necessary and appropriate.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered his transfer to St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, with strict conditions restricting his access to internet-enabled devices.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a positive reporting year but recently suffered a significant decompensation involving delusions and paranoia directed at his parents.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered continued detention at the forensic service with added privileges for community living (to access housing waitlists) and accompanied passes into the community within a 150-kilometre radius to allow family visits.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and failure to comply with a probation order.

The accused sought an absolute discharge or an amendment to permit unsupervised family visits.

The hospital and Crown opposed any changes.

Relying on the testimony of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to treatment-resistant schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder, and a history of substance abuse.

The Board maintained the current detention order with privileges.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for robbery.

The accused sought a conditional discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the existing detention order.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight and reliance on highly supportive housing for stability.

The Board concluded that continuing the detention order with community living privileges remained the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on account of mental disorder and referred to the Ontario Review Board.

At the initial hearing, the primary issue was whether the accused had become fit to stand trial.

The Board heard evidence from the accused's treating psychiatrist that she continues to experience psychotic symptoms, disorganization, and struggles to understand the trial process and consequences despite fitness coaching.

The Board applied the legal test for fitness and concluded that the accused remains unfit to stand trial.

A Detention Order on terms was issued.

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 Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The hospital, supported by the Crown and the accused's counsel, recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused had been stable in the community for over ten years, compliant with medication, and free of violent behaviour for at least two years.

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

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, has been stable on medication and is awaiting transition to a supervised community residence.

The Board accepted the consensus recommendation of the hospital, Crown, and defence counsel to maintain the current detention order with privileges, finding it provides the appropriate balance between public safety and the accused's rehabilitative needs during his transition to the community.

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

The hospital and Crown recommended continuing the conditional discharge due to recent signs of the accused disengaging from treatment, despite his medication compliance and lack of violence.

The Board concluded that the accused no longer posed a significant threat to public safety, citing his strong family support, medication adherence, and the willingness of his family physician to oversee his treatment.

An absolute discharge was granted.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on various charges including assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and moderate intellectual disability.

Based on the hospital report and psychiatric testimony, the Board concluded that the accused remains unfit to stand trial.

The Board ordered that the current disposition be maintained, with the addition of supervised community living privileges to promote independence and assist with supportive housing waitlists.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and criminal harassment.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, experienced a difficult year marked by substance abuse and loss of housing, though he recently achieved a few weeks of abstinence.

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

The Board ordered that the current disposition of a detention order with privileges be maintained, as it provides the necessary tools for the accused's progress while protecting the public.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and pedophilic disorder, had recently transitioned to a new supportive home where he was doing well and complying with his medication regimen.

However, relying on psychiatric evidence that the accused lacked insight into his illness and would pose a significant risk of violence or severe psychological harm if he abandoned treatment, the Board concluded he remained a significant threat to public safety.

The conditional discharge disposition was continued.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial on charges of assault with a weapon and referred to the Ontario Review Board.

Following a hearing where psychiatric evidence was presented, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to intellectual developmental disorder and an unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

The Board accepted the joint position of the parties and ordered a detention disposition at the hospital, while also noting the appropriateness of a Gladue Report for the Indigenous accused.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, experienced recent mental state deteriorations linked to her menstrual cycle, necessitating readmission to hospital to stabilize her condition and protect her subsidized community housing.

Applying the Winko test, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of a Detention Disposition and confirmed that recent restrictions of liberties were necessary and appropriate.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the conditional discharge of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for attempted murder and firearms offences.

The accused sought an absolute discharge or, alternatively, the removal of the condition requiring him to take prescribed medication.

The majority of the Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, lack of insight, and the risk of decompensation if he stops his medication.

The majority concluded that the treatment condition remains necessary and appropriate.

A minority would have removed the treatment condition to test the accused's voluntary compliance.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for attempt murder and aggravated assault.

The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly recommended a conditional discharge, agreeing that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but has made positive progress in his treatment for schizophrenia.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation and ordered a conditional discharge.

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 assault causing bodily harm and failing to comply with probation.

Based on the hospital report and testimony from the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to schizophrenia and an intellectual developmental disorder.

The Board ordered that the accused be detained in a Secure Forensic Unit, with discretion given to the person in charge to transfer him to a General Forensic Unit when appropriate, and granted indirectly supervised hospital and grounds passes.

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

The hospital, supported by the Attorney General and the accused, recommended a Conditional Discharge, noting the accused's stability, medication compliance, and successful employment in the community.

The Board accepted the clinical evidence that while the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, this risk can be readily managed in the community.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge without a specified community residence or substance prohibition.

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

The accused had been found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and theft.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge, while the accused sought an absolute discharge.

Relying on the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused's schizoaffective disorder is brittle and requires strict clozapine monitoring, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The conditional discharge was continued with minor modifications.