A Jamaican correctional officer is undergoing judicial proceedings following allegations of physically assaulting an inmate during a contraband search operation last year. Romel Wilkie, an officer with the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday facing serious criminal charges.
The court documents indicate Wilkie has been formally charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, a serious offense under section 20 (1) of Jamaica’s Offences Against the Person Act. The alleged incident occurred on February 26, 2025, at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre where Wilkie was conducting routine cell inspections.
According to the prosecution’s case, the correctional officer reportedly struck the inmate in the facial area near the ear during the search operation. Medical examinations subsequently confirmed the victim suffered a ruptured left eardrum as a direct result of the alleged assault.
The case progressed to trial following a comprehensive investigation by Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM). The evidence gathered was reviewed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which subsequently authorized criminal charges against Officer Wilkie.
The judicial process is scheduled to commence on April 14, 2026, when the trial is set to begin. This case forms part of a broader pattern of legal actions against law enforcement personnel in Jamaica. INDECOM statistics reveal that since January 2024, 56 law enforcement officers have been charged following commission investigations, with six of these defendants coming from the Department of Correctional Services.