In a troubling case of misconduct within the correctional system, former New York City Department of Correction officer Dionisio Rosario has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted of tampering with evidence. The conviction stems from an incident in April 2023, during which Rosario was recorded on his body-worn camera placing a makeshift weapon—a sharpened piece of plexiglass—inside an inmate’s cell at Rikers Island.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Office reported that the incident occurred during a contraband search. Rosario confronted an inmate who was observing Ramadan, insisting that he put down a Qur’an before deploying a chemical agent and engaging in a physical altercation. He was later seen placing and then recovering the weapon, raising serious concerns about his conduct as a correction officer.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark criticized Rosario’s actions as egregious, emphasizing the potential danger such corruption poses to both staff and inmates. Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Investigation, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of maintaining the safety and integrity of the jail system.
Rosario’s sentencing took place before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Timothy Lewis, who imposed concurrent 90-day jail terms for each felony along with a one-year conditional discharge for official misconduct. This sentence falls short of the 1⅓ to 4 years in prison recommended by the prosecution, sparking discussions about the effectiveness of current measures to hold correctional officers accountable.
The case highlights the serious implications of planting evidence within correctional facilities, which can lead to unjust penalties for inmates and erode trust necessary for maintaining order. Rosario will serve his jail term alongside a one-year conditional discharge as the investigation into correctional conduct continues.
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