Ontario Review Board

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

The accused had been found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon and theft.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the conditional discharge, while the accused sought an absolute discharge.

Relying on the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused's schizoaffective disorder is brittle and requires strict clozapine monitoring, the Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The conditional discharge was continued with minor modifications.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for assault, assault with a weapon, and mischief.

At his initial Ontario Review Board hearing, the hospital and the Attorney General sought a detention order, while the accused sought an absolute discharge.

The Board accepted psychiatric evidence that the accused suffers from untreated Schizophrenia, remains actively psychotic, and is non-compliant with treatment.

The Board concluded that the accused poses a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered his detention at the hospital with conditions, including a weapons prohibition and a no-contact order.

The Ontario Review Board held a restriction of liberty hearing after the hospital transferred the accused from a general forensic unit to a secure forensic unit due to decompensation, medication noncompliance, and threatening behaviour.

The Board accepted the hospital's evidence that the transfer was necessary to manage the accused's inappropriate conduct, risk of absconding, and threats.

The Board concluded that the ongoing stay in the secure unit represented the least onerous and least restrictive decision available to the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review two restrictions of liberty imposed on the accused by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The accused, who has schizophrenia and personality disorders, was readmitted to the hospital twice due to escalating regressive behaviour, specifically lying down in common areas and refusing to leave, which jeopardized his community housing.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence and found that both restrictions of liberty were warranted, necessary, and appropriate for the safety of the public and the accused, representing the least restrictive interventions available.

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for assault, sought a transfer from the Brockville Mental Health Centre to the Royal Ottawa Hospital and a conditional discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing to determine the appropriate disposition.

The Board found that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-resistant schizophrenia, substance use, and history of rule violations and aggression.

The Board denied the transfer request and ordered that the accused remain subject to a detention order with the hospital.

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

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for failing to comply with a probation order, sought an absolute or conditional discharge.

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended a continuation of the existing Detention Order Disposition.

Relying on the uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia, history of non-adherence, and risk of rapid decompensation.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Detention Order Disposition with an expanded geographic area to allow for cautious community reintegration.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on charges of mischief and failure to comply.

The accused suffers from major neurocognitive disorder (dementia) and alcohol use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, supported by psychiatric evidence, that the accused is permanently unfit to stand trial due to progressive cognitive decline.

Furthermore, the Board found that the accused no longer represents a significant threat to the safety of the public, as his risk of violence is low and can be managed under the Mental Health Act.

The Board ordered that the accused be referred back to the court for a recommended stay of proceedings.

The Ontario Review Board convened a hearing to reconsider the accused's fitness to stand trial, following a remand from the Ontario Court of Appeal.

The accused, who has an intellectual developmental disorder, had previously been found unfit.

Based on updated psychiatric assessments and applying the Supreme Court of Canada's recent framework in Bharwani, the Board accepted the joint submission that the accused is now fit to stand trial.

The Board found that the accused has a reality-based understanding of the trial process and can meaningfully participate with appropriate court accommodations.

The accused was referred back to the court for next steps.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and cannabis use disorder, had been living independently in the community under a Conditional Discharge.

Relying on uncontroverted expert psychiatric evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of the Conditional Discharge with amended conditions, including the removal of travel duration limits and substance consumption prohibitions, to foster his reintegration and transition to community-based care.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an initial disposition hearing for the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for violent offences including assault and robbery.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, lacked insight into his illness and resisted medication.

The Board found the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and ordered his detention in a Secure Forensic Unit, with discretion for the hospital to transfer him to a General Forensic Unit as his condition improves.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for first-degree murder.

The accused sought an absolute discharge, arguing she no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The hospital and Crown recommended continuing the conditional discharge, citing her ongoing need for a forensic clinical team, recent substance use, and the gravity of the index offence.

The Board accepted the unanimous clinical evidence that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge, with the removal of two specific clauses on consent.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault, suffers from treatment-refractory schizophrenia and has recently experienced delusions regarding his family members.

The Board accepted the uncontroverted expert evidence that the accused lacks insight into his illness and would likely discontinue medication if granted an absolute discharge, which would lead to rapid decompensation and a high risk of violence.

The Board concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of the existing Conditional Discharge.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for second-degree murder.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and moderate intellectual disability, had been stable with no acts of violence over the past year.

The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly recommended continuing the detention order with an amendment to increase the duration of indirectly supervised community passes.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation, finding the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, and directed a pre-hearing conference to address housing and passport funding delays.

The accused, previously found not criminally responsible for multiple assault charges, appeared for an annual review hearing before the Ontario Review Board.

The hospital and Crown recommended maintaining the current disposition, which the accused's counsel supported.

The Board heard evidence from the treating psychiatrist that while the accused's schizophrenia is stable, he continues to exhibit unprovoked and unpredictable assaultive behaviour towards staff due to antisocial personality disorder.

The Board concluded the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and ordered the current disposition be maintained as the least restrictive and least onerous option.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review and a restriction of liberties hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for arson.

The hospital had readmitted the accused from the community due to decompensation linked to cigarette smoking, which lowered his clozapine levels.

The Board found the readmission was warranted and the least restrictive measure available to manage his risk.

The Board also concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his treatment-refractory schizoaffective disorder, history of medication non-compliance, and risk of rapid decompensation.

A Detention Order was maintained.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review a significant increase in the restrictions on the liberties of an accused found not criminally responsible for arson.

The accused, who was living in the community, was readmitted to the hospital after testing positive for cocaine, violating the abstinence condition of his disposition.

The Board found that the readmission constituted a significant increase in restrictions on his liberty, but concluded that the hospital's actions were warranted and represented the least onerous and least restrictive measures available to manage his risk to public safety.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for various assault charges.

All parties jointly recommended a continuation of the Detention Order with expanded privileges, including the privilege of living in the community in approved accommodation.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety but has made sufficient progress to warrant community living privileges and expanded community passes.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found unfit to stand trial on various sexual assault and related charges.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused remains permanently unfit to stand trial due to a moderate intellectual disability and pedophilic disorder.

The Board also found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The detention order was continued without any provision for indirectly supervised community passes.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for manslaughter and assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, had remained psychiatrically stable and compliant with treatment over the past year.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly due to the risk of relapse associated with substance use.

However, given his stability and moderate risk level, the Board concluded that a transfer to a less secure forensic program at CAMH is the necessary and appropriate disposition.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's disposition following a finding of not criminally responsible for assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, who has diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had made some progress but continued to experience psychotic symptoms and engage in substance use.

All parties jointly recommended the continuation of the detention order.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation, finding that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and that a detention order at the hospital is necessary and appropriate.