Tanya Hewitt

The accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for sexual assault, was subject to an annual review of his disposition by the Ontario Review Board.

The accused has schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

While he has been adherent to treatment in the hospital, his insight remains limited and his immigration status poses a barrier to community reintegration.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, as a return to the community without supervision would likely lead to substance use, treatment non-adherence, and further offences.

The Board ordered a continuation of the detention order with expanded community passes to facilitate reintegration.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for sexual offences and has a history of severe schizophrenia, substance use, and unprovoked violence against co-patients and staff.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his unpredictable violent behaviour and lack of insight.

The Board ordered his continued detention in the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores, with the possibility of indirectly supervised community passes if accompanied by a suitable person.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General recommended continuing the current detention order with new privileges allowing the accused to enter the community and travel to the United States for up to seven days.

The accused's counsel agreed with the detention order but sought up to fourteen days for international travel.

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

The Board ordered the continuation of the detention order with the addition of clauses allowing the accused to enter the community and travel internationally for up to seven days, finding this to be the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, requested a conditional discharge, while the hospital and Attorney General recommended continuing the detention order.

Relying on the hospital report and the treating psychiatrist's evidence, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board concluded that maintaining the detention order is the necessary, appropriate, and least onerous disposition to manage the accused's risk while supporting his community living.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and assault.

The hospital, Crown, and accused all conceded that the accused remained a significant threat to the safety of the public due to schizophrenia and substance use disorders.

The Board accepted the attending psychiatrist's evidence that the accused required ongoing supervision to manage medication compliance and cannabis abstinence.

The Board ordered a continuation of the conditional discharge, adding a cannabis prohibition and a consent to treatment clause, while removing outdated no-contact conditions.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual review hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and failing to comply with conditions.

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, sought the removal of disposition clauses restricting his internet and cannabis use.

The Board accepted the treating psychiatrist's evidence that the accused's cannabis use leads to aggression and decompensation, and that internet restrictions are necessary to manage his risk.

The Board found the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety and ordered his continued detention within the Forensic Service at Ontario Shores.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for sexual assault, had a successful year in the community with his schizophrenia in remission.

The treatment team recommended removing the residence and substance abstinence conditions to foster independence.

The Board found that while the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, the proposed variations would not increase his risk.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge with the requested conditions removed.

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 assault, is currently subject to a discharge with conditions.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his diagnoses of schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, ongoing substance use, and recent incidents of aggression while in hospital.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current disposition, finding it to be the least restrictive and least onerous option necessary to manage the risk.

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

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorder.

The Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his history of problematic substance use and resulting noncompliance with medication.

However, noting his recent stability and insight, the Board ordered a discharge with conditions, including residing in approved housing and consenting to treatment, to support his gradual reintegration into the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review for an accused found not criminally responsible for criminal harassment and failing to comply with an undertaking.

The accused suffers from schizoaffective disorder and lacks insight into his illness, though he has recently maintained stability and employment while compliant with long-acting injectable medication.

The Board found the accused remains a significant threat to public safety due to the risk of medication noncompliance and symptom exacerbation.

The Board ordered a conditional discharge to allow the treatment team to transition his care to a non-forensic community team, specifically declining to impose a mandatory treatment condition to test his voluntary compliance.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for attempted murder and assault with a weapon.

At the initial disposition hearing, the Ontario Review Board found that the accused represents a significant threat to public safety due to untreated schizophrenia and a history of violence and substance use.

The Board ordered the accused detained at the psychiatric hospital without community living privileges, noting his recent admission, lack of insight, and the need for stabilization and a structured risk assessment.

The moving parties' anti-SLAPP motion was previously dismissed.

The responding party sought costs of $100,000.

The court found that costs were warranted under s. 137.1(8) of the Courts of Justice Act because the moving parties' motion lacked merit and the impugned expression was largely unrelated to the public interest.

Applying principles of proportionality and the screening purpose of anti-SLAPP motions, the court awarded costs of $50,000 to the responding party.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to determine whether the accused, who was found not criminally responsible for firearms offences, continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and severe cannabis use disorder.

Applying Gladue principles, the Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and found that the accused remains a significant threat.

The Board ordered the continuation of the existing Detention Order at the hospital, with privileges up to and including residing in supervised accommodation in the community.

The Ontario Review Board held a hearing to review the restriction of liberty and disposition of an accused previously found not criminally responsible for various offences.

The accused had been readmitted to the hospital after repeatedly activating fire alarms at her group home, which could no longer safely manage her behaviour.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, finding that the initial and ongoing restriction of liberty was necessary and appropriate.

The Board further concluded that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of her Detention Order as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The accused had a positive reporting year with no violent incidents or substance use, though he continues to struggle with insight into his personality disorder and psychopathic traits.

Applying the Winko test, the Board accepted the joint submission of the parties that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

A Detention Order with privileges up to residing in an approved community accommodation was ordered as the least onerous and least restrictive disposition.

The accused was found not criminally responsible for manslaughter and referred to the Ontario Review Board for an initial disposition hearing.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties, supported by psychiatric evidence, that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his schizophrenia spectrum disorder, limited insight, and substance use history.

The Board ordered a Detention Order with privileges up to residing in a 24-hour supervised accommodation in the community.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused's Detention Order following a finding of not criminally responsible for sexual assault.

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, sought to remove a condition prohibiting his consumption of cannabis.

The majority of the Board maintained the prohibition, finding that the accused's cannabis use directly exacerbates his breakthrough psychotic symptoms and delusional beliefs, thereby increasing his risk to public safety.

A dissenting minority would have permitted cannabis consumption from a licensed dispensary, arguing the prohibition was ineffective and not the least restrictive option.

The Ontario Review Board held a mandatory hearing to review the disposition of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and weapons offences.

The accused sought expanded privileges and a community living clause.

Relying on the evidence of the treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his history of violence driven by psychotic symptoms, medication non-compliance, and limited insight.

The Board concluded that the current detention order, without expanded privileges, remains the least onerous and least restrictive disposition necessary to balance public safety with the accused's rehabilitation needs.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the disposition for the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer.

The treatment team, the hospital, and the Attorney General jointly recommended an absolute discharge.

The Board found that the accused's psychotic illness and substance use disorders were in remission, she had maintained stability in the community, and she no longer posed a significant threat to public safety.

The Board granted an absolute discharge.

The Ontario Review Board held a disposition hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible (NCR) on charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance and failing to stop for police.

The accused has a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and a history of medication noncompliance and aggression.

Based on the uncontested evidence of the treating psychiatrist and the joint submission of the parties, the Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered a detention disposition to ensure the accused receives necessary psychiatric and medical care in a secure environment.