Residence Conditions on Community Treatment Orders

Objective: To identify the clinical reasons and legal authority for including a residential placement condition in a community treatment order (CTO).Method: We describe the clinical reasons for imposing a residence condition and discuss how this is authorized by the laws of the Canadian provinces (using Ontario as the main example).Results: A residence condition can facilitate numerous benefits, including: regular access to a person by a clinical team; continuing therapeutic relations; supervision of medication; provision of general medical care; and reduction in substance use, risks of victimization, and other unintended harm. A resident condition can be lawfully imposed when it clearly fits the purposes of the CTO legislation and stops short of authorizing detention in a community facility.Conclusions: In certain circumstances, a residence condition is clinically justified and a lawful aspect of a CTO.