Quebec records the highest number of 'not criminally responsible' (NCR) verdicts in Canada, leading to renewed public debate and frustration, particularly from victims' families, regarding the intersection of justice, public security, and mental health. Experts attribute this to Quebec's Civil Code protecting the right to refuse medical care, making NCR verdicts a pathway to mandatory treatment for individuals with severe mental disorders.
Quebec has the most not criminally responsible verdicts in the country
CanadaLavalQuébecHealthMental healthBipolar disorderSchizophrenia
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Quebec records the highest number of 'not criminally responsible' (NCR) verdicts in Canada, leading to renewed public debate and frustration, particularly from victims' families, regarding the intersection of justice, public security, and mental health. Experts attribute this to Quebec's Civil Code protecting the right to refuse medical care, making NCR verdicts a pathway to mandatory treatment for individuals with severe mental disorders.
Trending- 1 2011: Guy Turcotte initially found NCR.
- 2 2012: Fabio Puglisi found NCR for other offenses.
- 3 2020: Fabio Puglisi found NCR for other offenses.
- 4 2020-21: Latest Statistics Canada data on NCR cases.
- 5 March 2023: Sgt. Maureen Breau killed by Isaac Brouillard Lessard.
- 6 2023: Pierre Ny St-Amand crashed a city bus into a Laval daycare.
- 7 March (unspecified year, but recent): Emmanuel Gendron-Tardif found NCR.
- 8 April (unspecified year, but recent): Pierre Ny St-Amand found NCR.
- 9 Earlier this month (May 2025): Fabio Puglisi declared NCR.
- 10 Ongoing: Ministries working to improve mental health and forensic psychiatric services.
- Public frustration and debate over NCR verdicts
- Calls for stricter rules and greater oversight
- Ongoing efforts by ministries to improve mental health and forensic psychiatric services
- Highlighting of shortcomings in follow-up care for individuals under mental health board's care
What: Quebec has the highest number of 'not criminally responsible' (NCR) verdicts in Canada, leading to public anger and frustration, especially from victims' families, who feel justice is denied. Recent high-profile cases, such as Pierre Ny St-Amand (Laval bus crash), Emmanuel Gendron-Tardif (stabbing death), and Fabio Puglisi (killing mother and neighbor), highlight this trend. Experts like Dr. France Proulx and Dr. Mathieu Dufour explain that NCR verdicts are a mechanism to ensure treatment for individuals with severe mental disorders, particularly given Quebec's Civil Code protecting the right to refuse medical care.
When: Published May 27, 2025. Last month (April 2025): Pierre Ny St-Amand found NCR. Earlier this month (May 2025): Fabio Puglisi declared NCR. 2023: Pierre Ny St-Amand crashed bus. 2011: Guy Turcotte initially found NCR. 2012, 2020: Fabio Puglisi found NCR for other offenses. March 2023: Sgt. Maureen Breau killed. 2020-21: Latest Statistics Canada data on NCR cases.
Where: Quebec, Canada (Laval, Montreal).
Why: The high number of NCR verdicts in Quebec is attributed to the province's Civil Code, which makes it difficult to hospitalize someone without consent, thus making an NCR verdict a pathway to mandatory treatment under the mental health review board. The debate arises from the perceived lack of justice for victims and concerns about public security versus individual rights.
How: Individuals with severe mental disorders (e.g., psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) commit crimes, are evaluated by forensic psychiatrists, and if found to lack criminal intent due to their disorder, are declared NCR. They are then placed under the jurisdiction of the mental health review board for treatment and supervision, rather than imprisonment.