ORB 2025

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, had been residing in a supervised group home and demonstrating relative stability.

Based on psychiatric evidence and joint submissions, the Board concluded the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge requiring the accused to reside at the group home, with a provision authorizing police to arrest and return her to the hospital in the event of a breach.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the detention order, while the accused sought an absolute discharge or a community treatment order.

Relying on psychiatric evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, experiences ongoing symptoms of schizophrenia, and would likely stop taking medication if discharged, the Board ordered the accused's continued detention in a Secure Forensic Unit.

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

The accused has diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders, and has a history of violent conduct while under the Board's jurisdiction.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, as he would likely become non-compliant with medication and relapse into substance use without supervision.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention disposition, denying the accused's request to amend the disposition to allow the use of cannabis under medical supervision.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused previously found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a successful year in the community with no hospital readmissions, maintained abstinence, and complied with treatment.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's uncontroverted evidence that the accused's mental state remains fragile and he would rapidly decompensate without forensic oversight.

The Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered a loosened conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for prowl by night and criminal harassment.

The accused, who has a complex forensic dual diagnosis including autism spectrum disorder and paraphilias, was excused from attending due to agitation.

The Hospital and all parties jointly submitted that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and requires continued detention with 24-hour supervision in his specialized community housing.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding that the accused's risk of future violence would be high if absolutely discharged, and ordered the continuation of the Detention Disposition.

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, previously found not criminally responsible for arson and possession of an incendiary device, underwent an annual Review Board hearing.

The hospital and the Attorney General sought a continuation of the Detention Order, while the accused requested an Absolute Discharge.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his untreated schizophrenia, lack of insight, medication refusal, and recent verbal altercations.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order, concluding it was the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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 held a hearing to review the hospital's decision to readmit the accused and restrict his liberties following a positive urine drug screen for methamphetamines.

The accused, who has a history of substance-induced psychosis and schizophrenia, denied substance use and alleged his urine samples were tampered with.

The Board found the accused's testimony lacked credibility and upheld the hospital's decision, concluding that the readmission and ongoing restriction of liberties were warranted and represented the least restrictive means to stabilize his mental state and manage his risk to public safety.

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

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and an unspecified paraphilic disorder, and continues to exhibit sexually inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.

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

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition at the hospital, finding it necessary to manage her risk while efforts continue to find appropriate community housing.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not guilty by reason of insanity for second-degree murder in 1987.

The accused, who suffers from treatment-resistant schizophrenia, sought an independent housing assessment, arguing a residential impasse existed under the Shortt framework.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of decompensation and violence if unmedicated.

The Board renewed the detention disposition but expanded the geographic scope for supervised community accommodation to all of Southern Ontario, finding that an independent housing assessment was currently unwarranted given the hospital's ongoing placement efforts.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a history of treatment non-compliance and substance abuse.

The hospital recommended a continued detention disposition with an increased reporting frequency, while working towards a community housing placement.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted psychiatric evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a detention disposition with privileges up to living in the community, emphasizing the need for a cautious approach to his transition to less structured housing.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for assault and uttering threats, was subject to a detention disposition.

The hospital sought a renewal of the detention order, arguing that the accused's cannabis use posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board found that the accused had been consistently compliant with his antipsychotic medication and had not exhibited violent behaviour since the index offences, even when using cannabis.

The Board concluded that the evidence linking his cannabis use to a substantial risk of serious harm was speculative.

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 review hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, had transitioned to a group home and was doing well, though he continued to experience psychotic symptoms and delusional beliefs.

The hospital, supported by the Attorney General and the accused's counsel, recommended continuing the Detention Order with amended pass privileges.

The Board unanimously found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with the requested amendments to allow for indirectly supervised passes.

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

Despite recent incidents of substance use and a suicide attempt, the accused's mental condition had stabilized with long-acting injectable antipsychotics and intensive community support.

The Board accepted expert psychiatric evidence that the accused's risk of violence to the public was low, and that his recent struggles primarily posed a risk of self-harm.

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

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 was found unfit to stand trial on charges including unlawfully in a dwelling house and assaulting a peace officer.

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing to determine fitness and disposition.

Based on psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains unfit to stand trial due to a combination of intellectual disability and an unspecified psychotic disorder.

The Board concluded that the accused represents a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered a Detention Disposition with privileges, including the possibility of residing in 24-hour supervised community accommodation.

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 Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who had previously been found unfit to stand trial on various charges including mischief and theft.

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused's schizophrenia symptoms had resolved with medication and that he now demonstrated a reality-based appreciation of the legal process.

Applying the Supreme Court of Canada's recent decision in Bharwani, the Board unanimously accepted the psychiatric evidence and found the accused fit to stand trial.

The Board ordered that the accused be returned to court.

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

The accused's primary diagnosis of schizophrenia is complicated by catatonia, which the hospital is actively treating.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the accused lacks insight and would likely discontinue treatment and return to substance use if unsupervised.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order with privileges.