A mother has come forward with alarming allegations of human rights abuses against her son, Jahreem Staine, who has been detained at Belize Central Prison since October 9th, 2025. The 22-year-old, known as “32,” is being held on contempt of court charges related to a judicial order violation.
According to his distraught mother, who visited news offices to publicize her concerns, Staine was immediately placed in solitary confinement upon his arrival at the facility. She claims prison authorities have completely isolated him, denying all telephone privileges and cutting off any communication with family members.
The situation reportedly escalated recently when correctional officers pepper-sprayed the detainee after alleging he had made threatening phone calls from confinement—an accusation his mother finds implausible given his complete isolation. She further described concerning interactions where medical complaints about blurred vision were dismissively attributed to pre-existing cataracts rather than addressing the pepper spray exposure.
Emotional testimony revealed distressing conditions within the isolation unit, where Staine allegedly sleeps on a mere piece of sponge with minimal bedding and is confined to a space without adequate ventilation. His mother emphasized she isn’t seeking special treatment but rather basic humane conditions and due process, noting her son has been held for nearly two months without meaningful contact or proper procedural oversight.
The case raises significant questions about prison conditions and human rights protections within Belize’s correctional system, particularly regarding the treatment of remand detainees who haven’t been convicted of crimes.