Ontario Review Board
Re: Jeffrey A. Brown
ORB File No: 8751
Hearing held on: Monday, June 9, 2025
Place of hearing: Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care 401 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. M.D. Segal
Members: Dr. T. Verny Dr. S. Wiseman Ms. K. Tomaszewski Ms. C. Plyley
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Jeffrey A. Brown Counsel: Mr. C. Dobson
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Zamprogna
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. D. Rows
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 20, 2025)
Introduction
Jeffrey Brown was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on March 25, 2025, on a charge of aggravated assault contrary to the Criminal Code.
On June 9, 2025, Mr. Brown appeared before the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) for his initial hearing from the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care (the “hospital”).
Exhibit 1 was a Hospital Report dated May 20, 2025. Exhibit 2 was a criminal court file that included an earlier assessment and an Agreed Statement of Facts.
In preliminary positions, the hospital, supported by Crown counsel, advanced that a Detention Order was appropriate. Mr. Dobson, for the patient, indicated that there was no objection to that resolution and there was a recognition of a need for treatment. Mr. Brown’s parents were in attendance.
Index Offence
- Mr. Brown approached an unsuspecting stranger and plunged a 12-inch butcher knife into his upper back area with one strike, causing the knife to be lodged. The accused dragged the victim across the ground in an attempt to dislodge the weapon. Mr. Brown was saying “die, die, die,” after the stabbing. The accused left the scene discarding a knife sheath, sunglasses, a wig and a pink sweater. The accused was arrested. He was not making any sense and had crystal methamphetamine on his person.
Diagnoses
- Substance Use Disorder (including stimulants, opioids, alcohol; rule-out cannabis use disorder)
Borderline personality traits (rule out borderline personality disorder)
Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features (Provisional)
Rule out Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder by history
Autism Spectrum Disorder by history
Background
Mr. Brown was admitted to the hospital on March 20, 2025. Mr. Brown has no criminal record as an adult. He has a minor youth record.
Mr. Brown was diagnosed as a child with a variety of conditions including ADHD. He was diagnosed with autism as an adult. He has also been assessed as having OCD, suffering from social anxiety and depressive disorder. Previously he had been found to have bipolar disorder type one. He developed agoraphobia in 2006 and did not leave his house until 2016. He attempted suicide three or four times as a teenager.
Mr. Brown began drinking very early. His intake became excessive by age 14. Blackouts sometimes occurred. He started using cannabis at 14. He has tried ecstasy and cocaine. Crystal methamphetamine eventually became his drug of choice. He used crystal meth and alcohol and opioids before just before the index offence. He reported being abused by his stepfather and a babysitter as a youngster.
Mr. Brown worked intermittently during a five-year period prior to 2023.
Mr. Brown was placed in jail following the index offence. Prior to that he had lived with his father and girlfriend in London. Mr. Brown reconciled with his mother some years ago. Mr. Brown’s father gave up alcohol some years ago.
Evidence at Hearing
Dr. J. Quinn, the patient’s psychiatrist, testified. Dr. Quinn related how Mr. Brown presents with a complex mental disorder and differing diagnoses. There has been a recent psychological assessment, but results were only preliminary at the time of the hearing. There is a strong history of substance abuse. There are borderline personality traits. Whether an antisocial personality disorder or traits exist needs to be explored. A preliminary diagnosis is schizophrenia. There are no current signs of PTSD, ADHD or autism spectrum disorder. At present, psychotic symptoms are not prominent.
Mr. Brown has some insight into his symptoms. He can describe what he experienced at the time of the index offence and realizes he was out of touch with reality. He also comprehends somewhat the existence of antisocial personality traits.
Mr. Brown is capable of consenting to treatment.
Mr. Brown has also expressed concerns regarding low mood and sleep deprivation. He is agreeable to medication.
There is a history of medication non-adherence. Mr. Brown consistently ignored advice about treatment and avoiding substances. He understands that he has a serious mental disorder. He has limited insight into the potential for relapse.
Mr. Brown began to attend Alcoholics Anonymous which is commendable. AA offers support for both alcohol and illicit substances.
Mr. Brown requires much more psychoeducation. Substances increase the risk of repeat violent offending.
Current motivation is primarily external. Mr. Brown does not think he requires treatment but if it helps him get out of hospital he will take it. If on a Conditional Discharge, his risk would be moderate to high. The Conditional Discharge would be inadequate to quickly and effectively deal with decompensation. If he lived in the community with his father, a mailman who is often out of the house, unstructured time would lead to substance use, falling away from treatment, and a real risk of violent offending.
Mr. Brown’s relationship with a former girlfriend is somewhat ambiguous. She resides in the same residence as is father as a renter.
Mr. Brown has some limited insight into the index offences. He does not see how this could happen again.
Mr. Brown is participating in programming within the unit but requires prompting to attend.
Mr. Brown’s parents and his sister are potential approved persons.
In the upcoming year, a plan will be to increase psychoeducation, focus on the risk of relapse, increase relations with his family including, if they become approved persons, on outings. Community living is unlikely this year.
Strengths include family, an openness to treatment and medication, and the long-acting medication he is on. He is open to substance abuse treatment even if externally motivated. These are early days.
In addition to the conditions recommended in the Hospital Report, the doctor, and all parties, agree to the inclusion of a condition to permit attendance at a residential treatment program in Ontario for up to 90 days.
Cognitive testing is being considered.
Given the family dynamics and history, social work will become involved.
Final submissions endorsed preliminary positions. There was also agreement that there be conditions regarding non-association and non-attendance in respect of the victim.
Analysis
- Mr. Brown is in early days of his assessment and treatment. The index offence was startlingly violent. There are several questions regarding diagnoses which impacts the administration and possible optimization of medication. Insight is starting to develop. There is at least an openness to treatment. Much more psychoeducation is needed. More work needs to be done on the link between substances and the risk of future violence. It appears that there will be an assessment of cognitive ability. There is a plan for moving forward. It may include the option of a residential substance abuse treatment stay. Significant threat is clear. Mr. Brown is where he needs to be. We wish him well in the upcoming year.
DATED this 20th day of June 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. M.D. Segal Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board