British Columbia Review Board – Vancouver, BC

British Columbia Review Board

Independent Criminal Code Tribunal

• Jurisdiction: Federal Criminal Code mandate
• Hearings: Not Criminally Responsible (NCRMD)
• Review Type: Annual custody and discharge reviews

The British Columbia Review Board (BCRB) is an independent tribunal established under the Criminal Code of Canada. It has jurisdiction over individuals who have been charged with a criminal offence but have been found by a court to be either Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder (NCRMD) or Unfit to Stand Trial (UST). The Board’s primary mandate is to protect public safety while safeguarding the rights and liberties of the accused. 🇨🇦⚖️

The Board holds hearings to make and review dispositions (orders) concerning the liberty and treatment of the accused. These hearings determine whether an individual should be detained in a designated forensic hospital, discharged with conditions, or (in NCRMD cases) granted an absolute discharge. The Board must balance the safety of the public with the reintegration of the accused into society. 🏥📝

Key Functions and Process

• Public Safety: The paramount consideration in all decisions.
• Disposition Hearings: Mandatory reviews held annually or upon hospital restriction changes.
• Forensic Oversight: Monitors patients at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital.

The administrative offices are located in downtown Vancouver, though hearings may occur at various designated facilities, primarily the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam. The Board operates separately from the court system but functions with similar adjudicative powers regarding the specific population under its purview. 🏛️👮‍♂️