ORB 2025

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder, had transitioned to independent living and remained abstinent from substances.

The Board found that while the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, he can be safely managed in the community under the terms of a conditional discharge, supported by his family and community mental health resources.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a mandatory review of the accused's disposition and fitness to stand trial.

The accused, who has a severe intellectual developmental disorder, was previously found unfit to stand trial on charges including sexual assault and assault.

Relying on the uncontested psychiatric evidence and applying the Supreme Court's recent test in Bharwani, the Board unanimously found the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot meaningfully participate in the process.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current hospital Detention Order, finding the accused poses a significant threat to public safety and requires a highly structured and supervised setting, while noting ongoing efforts to secure appropriate community accommodation.

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

The accused had previously been found unfit to stand trial on charges of committing indecent acts.

The Board applied the test from R. v. Bharwani and accepted the uncontradicted psychiatric evidence that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to a schizoaffective disorder and delusions that prevent a reality-based understanding of the court process.

The Board ordered the continuation of the accused's Detention Order without amendment to protect public safety.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, was subject to a mandatory annual review by the Ontario Review Board.

The accused had recently transferred to a new hospital and struggled with sleep cycle disruption due to cell phone overuse, leading to non-engagement with treatment.

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

The Board ordered a disposition detaining the accused at the hospital with privileges up to and including living in the community in supervised accommodation.

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

The accused suffers from bipolar disorder and a traumatic brain injury, and has a history of substance use and non-adherence to treatment in the community.

The Board unanimously accepted the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the attending psychiatrist that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order with amendments to the geographical area for passes, finding that a less restrictive disposition would not adequately protect the public.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for sexual assault and committing an indecent act.

The accused requested a transfer to a hospital closer to his family but later withdrew the request.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his mental illness, substance use vulnerability, and history of violence.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Disposition with the addition of seven-day passes to facilitate family visits, finding this to be the least restrictive and least onerous disposition.

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 make an initial disposition for an accused found unfit to stand trial on multiple sexual offences.

The accused suffers from schizophrenia and a moderate intellectual disability.

Based on expert evidence and a joint submission, the Board concluded the accused remains unfit to stand trial as he cannot understand the nature or consequences of the proceedings or meaningfully communicate with counsel.

The Board ordered the accused detained at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Hospital.

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.

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.

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 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 accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible and discharged to a community residence, failed to return to his residence after a hospital visit for a physical illness.

He was found in another city and returned to the forensic psychiatry program, where he was highly agitated and required seclusion and restraints.

The hospital held a restriction of liberty hearing under s. 672.81(2.1) of the Criminal Code.

The Ontario Review Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the return to hospital and ongoing detention were warranted and represented the least onerous and least restrictive decision consistent with public safety.

The hospital requested an early review of the accused's Conditional Discharge Disposition after he eloped from the hospital and his mental health deteriorated due to medication non-compliance.

The accused, who has a diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder and a history of unprovoked violence, experienced a psychotic decompensation requiring involuntary admission and seclusion.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a Detention Order Disposition, as his risk could no longer be safely managed in the community.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for uttering threats, suffers from schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public due to ongoing delusions, recent substance use relapses, and fluctuating insight.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition with minor modifications, finding that the hospital requires the authority to return him for assessment if his mental state deteriorates.

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 conducted a mandatory review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault.

The hospital reported a significant restriction of liberty after the accused was placed in seclusion following an unprovoked assault on a co-patient.

The Board found that the accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, remains a significant threat to public safety due to escalating unpredictable physical aggression.

The Board upheld the restriction of liberty as necessary and appropriate, and ordered the accused transferred to a high-secure provincial forensic program, with reduced privileges pending the transfer.