Ontario Review Board

The Ontario Review Board held an initial hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault and uttering threats.

The accused suffers from bipolar disorder and a cannabis use disorder.

The Board found that the accused represents a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of decompensation and violence if he stops taking his medication or resumes substance use.

The Board ordered a Conditional Discharge.

While the parties jointly recommended omitting a substance use abstention clause, the Board rejected this submission, finding that a strict prohibition on intoxicants was necessary to manage the accused's risk and support his reintegration.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder, appeared for an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and Crown sought to maintain the current detention order with minor corrections, while the accused sought a conditional discharge.

The Board accepted the psychiatric evidence that the accused suffers from a brittle illness and is highly sensitive to medication changes and stress.

Finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and requires careful housing progression, the Board ordered that the detention order be maintained.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, continues to experience paranoia and cognitive deficits.

The hospital recommended continuing the detention order with community living privileges, while removing the abstinence clause.

The Crown and Amicus supported this recommendation.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the detention order with the recommended amendments, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for murder due to schizophrenia.

The accused had recently eloped from the hospital and was found with cannabis, setting back his progress.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to community safety and ordered the continuation of his detention order at CAMH Forensic Services.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and a major neurocognitive disorder, had a history of medication non-adherence in the community.

The attending psychiatrist testified that the accused's violent behavior was managed with medication and hospital structure, but he would likely discontinue medication without supervision.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered that he remain subject to a Detention Order with an added condition restricting his proximity to the victim.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for charges including advocating genocide and willful promotion of hatred after posting over 4,000 antisemitic messages on social media.

At his initial disposition hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the panel found that he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his diagnosis of schizophrenia, pathological anger, and high risk of violent re-offending.

The Board ordered a detention order with discretionary privileges, including the potential for indirectly supervised passes in the community, and imposed strict conditions monitoring his access to the internet and social media.

The accused was charged with assault causing bodily harm and previously found unfit to stand trial.

At her initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the Board considered whether she had become fit.

Relying on the evidence of her treating psychiatrist and the accused's own testimony, the Board found she remained actively psychotic with complex delusions, including the belief that she is a 'Crown Empress' immune from prosecution.

Applying the Supreme Court's test in Bharwani, the Board concluded her delusions prevented a reality-based understanding of the proceedings.

The accused was found unfit to stand trial and a detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health was issued to manage her risk and provide ongoing treatment.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for assault and other charges in 2023, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The hospital and the accused jointly sought an absolute discharge, which the Crown ultimately supported.

The Board found that the accused, who is stable in supervised housing, medication compliant, and has improved insight, no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public.

An absolute discharge was ordered.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences, has diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his lack of insight, history of unpredictable aggression, and ongoing psychotic symptoms.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with no change to its terms, finding it to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to manage the risk.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for assault, has diagnoses of treatment-resistant schizophrenia and substance use disorder.

Relying on uncontroverted expert evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to risks of substance relapse, housing instability, and medication non-adherence.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition as the necessary and appropriate measure to manage the accused's risk while supporting his reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for various offences, including uttering threats and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

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, primarily due to his escalating cannabis use, lack of insight, and history of non-compliance and reoffending while on prior discharges.

The Board concluded that a Conditional Discharge would not adequately manage the risk and ordered the continuation of the Detention Order.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, resides in a high-support community residence under a detention order.

Based on a joint submission and uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence that the accused remains significantly psychotic, has impaired insight, and recently engaged in a minor physical altercation, the Board found the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing detention disposition without changes.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for arson and mischief, was subject to an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and the Crown recommended the continuation of the existing detention disposition, while the accused sought a conditional discharge.

Relying on the uncontroverted expert evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight, recent re-emergence of psychotic symptoms, and the risk of unsafe behaviour during decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention disposition without changes.

The hospital requested an early hearing to amend the residency condition of the accused's conditional discharge.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for robbery and other offences, had been accepted into a permanent community group home.

The out-patient psychiatrist testified that the move would not increase the accused's risk to the public.

The Ontario Review Board found that the transition did not pose a significant threat to public safety and granted the amendment to the disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for multiple violent offences.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had been residing in a 24-hour high support community placement and demonstrated sustained psychiatric stability.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety, as a relapse in mental illness or substance use would likely lead to violent re-offending.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current Detention Order to ensure ongoing support and supervision.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The hospital and the accused requested that community living within the GTA be added to his privileges, which the Crown opposed.

The Board noted the accused's positive progress, adherence to treatment, and lack of aggression.

The Board granted the addition of a community living privilege in supportive housing, along with indirectly supervised privileges in the community, to allow for careful reintegration and assessment of independent living skills.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused has a lengthy history of violence, schizophrenia, and substance abuse.

All parties agreed that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and that his detention at the high-secure forensic hospital should continue.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order with no changes to its terms and, on consent of the parties, extended the time for the next hearing to 24 months due to the accused's stable but declining cognitive condition.

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

The accused, who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, requested a transfer to a less secure hospital.

The treatment team opposed the transfer due to the accused's recent medication non-compliance, mental status decompensation, and lack of insight.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and concluded that continuing the Detention Order at the current high-secure hospital is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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

The accused sought a conditional discharge with a term allowing moderate alcohol consumption.

The Hospital and Attorney General sought to continue the existing detention order.

The Board accepted the uncontradicted psychiatric evidence that the accused's schizophrenia and substance use disorder require ongoing hospital supervision, and that any alcohol consumption would significantly increase his risk of violence.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and concluded that continuing the detention order without changes is the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for second-degree murder after stabbing a friend 22 times while psychotic and paranoid.

At his initial disposition hearing before the Ontario Review Board, the hospital and Crown recommended a detention order with a range of privileges and conditions, including a weapons ban and substance prohibitions.

The Board accepted the joint submission, noting the accused's strong insight, medication compliance, and two years of being asymptomatic, while adding non-contact and non-attendance clauses.