A total of 22 deaths were recorded in prisons and police lock-ups last year, a decrease from the 32 documented in 2024 according to data compiled by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).

Since the start of 2026, two deaths have been recorded — one in prison and the other in a police lock-up.

According to INDECOM, an overall total of 116 deaths were recorded in both police lock-ups and prisons islandwide from 2021 to 2025. Prisons recorded 74 deaths over the period, while police lock-ups recorded 42 deaths.

Deputy Commissioner of INDECOM Yanique Taylor Wellington shared that the majority of the deaths were as a result of natural causes. Allegations of failure by the authorities to provide medical attention are being examined.

She reiterated a call for the state of overcrowding in police lock-ups to be examined in 2026.

A breakdown of the figures showed that of the 22 deaths last year, 13 were recorded in prisons and nine in police lock-ups. The data further showed that deaths in police lock-ups and prisons fluctuated over the five years, with notable year-to-year changes.

The year 2024 recorded 32 deaths, evenly split between 16 in prisons and 16 in lock-ups, while in 2023 there were a total of 19 deaths recorded — 17 in prisons and two in police lock-ups.

The year 2022 recorded 25 deaths — 17 in prison and eight in lock-ups.

Looking further back, the statistics revealed that 2021 recorded the lowest total for the period, with 18 deaths comprising 11 in prisons and seven in police lock-ups.

Over the period 2021 to 2025 the Tower Street Adult Correctional facility recorded the largest number of deaths — 44; while the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre recorded 17. Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre recorded 11 deaths, while South Camp Adult Correctional Centre and Horizon Adult Remand Centre recorded one each.

For deaths while in police lock-ups from 2021 to 2025, Half-Way-Tree Police Station recorded five while Kingston Central, Negril, and Mandeville police stations recorded three each.

Meanwhile, the Denham Town, Spanish Town, Lucea, Portmore, and Greater Portmore police stations recorded two deaths each, with another 18 police stations recording one death each.

Under Section 11 of the INDECOM Act, once there is any death or injury to an individual in police custody or prison, it is mandated that a report be made to the commission, which would then take control of the investigation.

While she could not state the exact figure, Deputy Commissioner Taylor Wellington said the majority of the deaths were due to illnesses, “so it’s not for us [INDECOM] to infer much at this moment from it”.

Suicides and murders were also listed as reasons for the death of detainees and inmates.

“A reduction is a reduction, and there are many things that can cause it. I do not believe that there is any information at this time to suggest largely that this has resulted, nor have we historically concluded in the majority of the cases, that there is any mishandling or inaction that would have led to the demise of these prisoners or these inmates..we are grateful for the reduction, but it’s not something I think that we can draw a conclusion from at this time without further, deeper analysis,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

However, she acknowledged that challenges persist, particularly in police lock-ups, noting that officers are often not adequately trained or equipped, and that there are insufficient resources to properly care for individuals with long-term illnesses.

“What will happen ultimately is that when you have this failure or this lack of training or lack of resources, it will impact on one, the speed at which the medical attention may be rendered to these persons, and ultimately it could impact on the outcome. While we have not captured in sufficient detail exactly how it has impacted it, we can say that it has been a factor — and that is something which we reiterate over and over,” said Taylor Wellington.

The deputy commissioner noted that there have been reports and allegations that a lack of medical attention for detainees and inmates resulted in their deaths. She stated that these reports are being investigated by the commission but she could not speak to the conclusion of the investigations. However, she said there were no charges laid in relation to the death of inmates or detainees in custody or prisons last year.

In a call to action, Taylor Wellington reinforced the need for the state of overcrowding at police lock-ups to be examined in the new year.

“It is something that is quite concerning regarding the state in which persons are being held and the overcrowding of prisons. Just last year there was an inmate who died, and one of the things that we observed in that particular lock-up was that …it was overcrowded. We’ve written on it, persons have written on it, and it’s something of grave concern,” said the deputy commissioner.

“We want to encourage, really as best as possible, for that to be looked into and also for us to appreciate that, really, lock-ups are not a place where persons can get the requisite attention medically that they need. And insofar [where] one, overcrowding these lock-ups, and two, keeping persons there with medical conditions that they cannot be sufficiently addressed, certainly this is not something that we want to continue with all along as a country,” she stressed.

Deputy Commissioner of INDECOM Yanique Taylor Wellington is reinforcing the need for the state of overcrowding at police lock-ups to be examined in the new year.