Ontario Review Board
Re: Harlon Jack
ORB File No: 5994
Hearing held on: Monday, August 25, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. M.D. Segal
Members: Dr. P. Prendergast Dr. S. Wiseman Mr. R. Bigelow Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Harlon Jack Counsel: Ms. L. McCullough
The person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. P. Darby
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. K. Kirec
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated October 8, 2025)
Introduction
1. Harlon Jack, age 61, was on October 28, 2011, found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on charges of assaulting a peace officer, failure to comply with a probation order, assault with intent to resist arrest, and fail to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance, all contrary to the Criminal Code.
2. On August 25, 2025, Mr. Jack appeared before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (the “hospital”), for his annual hearing. He is subject to a Detention Order which orders him detained with privileges up to and including living in the community in accommodation approved person in charge.
3. In preliminary positions, the Board was presented with a joint submission that the current Detention Order was appropriate and that significant threat was present. By the conclusion of the hearing, the Board agreed.
4. The Board had before it as Exhibit 1, the Hospital Report dated August 7, 2025. Mr. Jack, as is his custom, chose not to appear but had instructed his counsel to proceed and an order was granted to permit the hearing to proceed in his absence.
Current Diagnoses
5. Schizophrenia
Poly-Substance Abuse/Dependence (cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines), in remission in a controlled environment
Index Offences
6. The circumstances giving rise to the index offences are extracted from last year’s Board Reasons, as follows:
“Mr. Jack, while at a crosswalk, walked behind a stopped police cruiser and butted out a cigarette on the trunk. When the officer called out to him about what he had done he responded by saying, “Fuck off cops, you got nothing on me.” The police cruiser followed him and pulled up beside Mr. Jack, who was on foot. Mr. Jack then reached through the window and lit a cigarette lighter near P.C. Dobb’s face. She got out to arrest him for assault and he grabbed her by her vest and punched her “several times.”
Mr. Jack was released on a recognizance and did not attend on his first court appearance. He also did not remain at the address specified on his recognizance. At the time he was also on a probation order with a term reading ''Follow the directions of Stephen Willoughby at CAMH.” He had been discharged from the program run by Mr. Willoughby for non-attendance.”
7. At the time of the preparation of the report, Mr. Jack, who is single, had a lengthy psychiatric history going back forty years. He also has a lengthy criminal record including several charges involving assaultive behaviour. He has previously lived in 24/7 supervised housing. He has been at LOFT housing since 2017.
Evidence at Hearing
8. Dr. P. Darby, the patient’s psychiatrist, testified. He is known Mr. Jack for seven or eight years. Dr. Darby noted that Mr. Jack is at LOFT which is a 24-hour staff supervised residence. In the past year, there have been no hugely significant issues. As is his norm, Mr. Jack has continued to act out, displaying anger and has been verbally threatening. This was “par for the course”.
9. Dr. Darby reiterated that there is a long history of mental health disorder, substance use disorder combined with antisocial traits.
10. Dr. Darby advised that the forensic team and the LOFT staff employ a light touch. They are used to dealing with Mr. Jack and manage him well despite Mr. Jack being dismissive of those teams. Staff has learned how to ensure that matters do not escalate to assaultive behaviour. If Mr. Jack received an Absolute Discharge, he would fall away from medication adherence and revert to substances.
11. Protective factors are mostly external consisting of Board supervision, the LOFT residence and staff, and the forensic team.
12. Mr. Jack has an entire absence of insight into his mental health condition.
13. Mr. Jack is comfortable at LOFT. There were two admissions in 2021 and a brief admission in 2024.
14. Mr. Jack’s behaviour is managed in such a fashion that his housing is never in jeopardy. Mr. Jack can be quite pleasant and has a good sense of humour. Mr. Jack’s antisocial personality traits are less intense than they were five to 10 years ago, consistent with his age.
15. Mr. Jack has no plans to leave LOFT. He spends most of his time in his room listening to music, choosing not to engage very much with others.
16. The hospital would like to see him see a dentist and a doctor. No changes to medication are contemplated. His medications are optimized.
Analysis
17. Being under the Board has served Mr. Jack and the public well. Mr. Jack’s history of mental health disorder and criminal behaviour is extensive. The hospital and LOFT have done an excellent job of ensuring that his propensity for violence is not engaged. Mr. Jack is comfortable and enjoys LOFT. The oversight of the Board, the forensic team and housing providers all are doing a great job, not responding to Mr. Jack’s difficult persona, while ensuring that words do not escalate to assaultive behaviour. The current Disposition is necessary and appropriate. The joint submission is accepted by the Board. We wish Mr. Jack well in the upcoming year.
DATED this 8^th^ day of October 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. M.D. Segal Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board