Valerie Dawn Culp

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a successful year in supportive housing and remained compliant with treatment.

Based on the expert evidence of his treating psychiatrist, the Board found that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety, as he would likely decompensate and pose a risk of violence if he experienced stressors or became noncompliant with medication.

The Board ordered a discharge with conditions, including a provision allowing for supervised travel to Pakistan.

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

The accused was previously found not criminally responsible for various offences including assault with a weapon.

The Board heard evidence from the treating psychiatrist that the accused's schizoaffective disorder is currently well-controlled with medication, but he lacks insight and would likely discontinue treatment if discharged.

The Board found that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety and ordered the continuation of his Detention Order at a General Forensic Unit.

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 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 an accused found not criminally responsible for assault.

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia, is a dual status offender currently serving a custodial sentence for a subsequent aggravated assault.

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

The Board ordered that upon his release from custody, the accused shall be subject to a Detention Order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, with an added condition prohibiting the possession of weapons.

The Ontario Review Board conducted a hearing to review a Restriction of Liberty (ROL) imposed on the accused, who was detained at a psychiatric hospital.

The accused had experienced a decompensation in his mental status, leading to unprovoked assaults on co-patients and placement in seclusion.

The hospital subsequently transferred him to a Secure Observation and Treatment Unit (SOTU) and administered electroconvulsive therapy.

The Board found that the ROL commenced on April 20, 2025, and ended on August 26, 2025, and unanimously concluded that the increased liberty restrictions were warranted and represented the least restrictive options available to the hospital.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused found not criminally responsible for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon.

The accused has schizophrenia and a substance use disorder, with recent incidents of absconding to secure substances.

The hospital proposed maintaining the current Detention Order with privileges, focusing on anti-craving medication and a potential residential treatment program.

The Board accepted the joint submission, finding the accused remains a significant threat to public safety and the current Disposition is the least onerous and least restrictive means to manage his risk.

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

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public due to his history of violence and primary psychotic illness.

However, noting his successful treatment year and remission of psychotic symptoms, the Board ordered a Detention Order to the Forensic Service with expanded privileges, including community living in supervised accommodation, to facilitate cautious reintegration and assist with housing waitlists.

The accused, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity for murder in 1985, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual review hearing.

The Board considered psychiatric evidence indicating the accused continues to exhibit problematic sexualized behaviour and lacks insight into his condition.

Accepting the joint submission of the parties, the Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and ordered the continuation of his detention order at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for murder, appeared before the Ontario Review Board for an annual hearing.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder.

The treating psychiatrist testified that the accused is stable, adherent to medication, and has good insight, but continues to pose a significant threat to the public.

The Board agreed that the accused remains a significant threat and ordered that the current Disposition of a Detention Order with privileges up to and including living in the community be maintained.

The Board noted the accused's lack of immigration status in Canada as a challenge for community placement.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, sought a transfer to a general unit or a pre-transfer visit to his designated destination hospital.

The Board found the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his history of non-compliance and substance use exacerbating psychotic symptoms.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention at the Forensic Service, expanding his community access privileges, but declined to order a pre-transfer hospital visit citing jurisdictional limits.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, was detained at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The Board found that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to public safety due to his limited insight and history of non-adherence to medication.

The Board ordered the continuation of his detention order, but granted expanded indirectly supervised community access to the Greater Toronto Area and provisions for community living in approved accommodation, as jointly recommended by the parties.

The accused was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for arson and referred to the Ontario Review Board.

The accused has diagnoses of schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and issued a Detention Order with community living privileges, finding that the accused poses a significant threat to public safety that requires the structure of a Detention Order to manage her risk of psychotic decompensation.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the accused, who was previously found not criminally responsible for various offences including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and sexual assault.

The accused had recently been discharged into a high-support community residence.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties and the treating physician that the accused remains a significant threat to public safety.

The Board ordered the continuation of a Detention Order, directed to the General Forensic Unit, to ensure ongoing medication compliance and monitor his integration into the community.

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 assault with a weapon.

Based on the hospital report and the testimony of the assessing doctor, all parties agreed that the accused was now fit to stand trial.

The Board accepted this evidence, found the accused fit to stand trial, and directed that the charges be returned to court.

The Ontario Review Board held an annual hearing for an accused previously found unfit to stand trial on a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

The accused, who suffers from schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, did not attend the hearing.

Applying the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Bharwani, the Board found the accused lacked a reality-based understanding to instruct counsel and remained unfit to stand trial.

The Board accepted uncontroverted medical evidence that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to ongoing aggressive behaviours.

The Board maintained the detention disposition at the forensic psychiatric facility, with privileges for supervised community living, concluding a conditional discharge was inappropriate given the instability of the accused's mental state.

The Ontario Review Board conducted an annual review of the Disposition for an accused found not criminally responsible for assault with a weapon.

The hospital, Crown, and accused jointly recommended continuing the Detention Order while amending the residential clause to allow the accused to relocate to Windsor, Ontario for new employment.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation, finding the accused remained a significant threat to public safety, and ordered continued detention at the General Forensic Unit at CAMH with the requested travel and residential privileges.

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

The hospital and the Attorney General argued that the accused remained a significant threat to public safety and sought a continued conditional discharge.

The accused sought an absolute discharge.

The Board found that the accused had been stable in the community for four years, remained abstinent from substances, and was compliant with his medication.

Despite the treating psychiatrist's concerns about the accused's limited insight and risk of relapse, the Board concluded that the threshold for a significant threat to public safety was not met and granted an absolute discharge.

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

The accused, who was found not criminally responsible for various offences including threatening death, has diagnoses of schizophrenia and substance use disorder.

The Board accepted the joint submission of the parties and the evidence of the treating psychiatrist that the accused continues to pose a significant threat to public safety due to his risk of decompensation and noncompliance with treatment.

The Board ordered the continuation of the current detention order with the same terms and conditions.

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

The accused, diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorders, had been residing in the community under a conditional discharge.

The Board accepted the joint recommendation of the parties, supported by the treating psychiatrist's evidence, that the accused continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.

The Board ordered the continuation of the conditional discharge, noting the accused's stability and compliance with treatment, while recognizing the need for ongoing support during his transition to more independent housing.