US Inmate Reportedly Beaten to Death by Correctional Officers

Tragic incident in a US prison as an inmate is allegedly beaten to death by correctional officers, raising concerns about prison violence and oversight.

Body camera footage released on Friday reveals officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York state beating inmate Robert Brooks, who was restrained for a medical examination just hours before his death was confirmed.

The incident took place on December 9, and officials have committed to a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 43-year-old in custody. Attorney General Letitia James announced that thirteen correctional officers and one nurse involved will be dismissed from their positions.

Governor Kathy Hochul conveyed her shock and anger regarding “the senseless killing” of Brooks, especially following the release of related videos. The Attorney General’s office disclosed footage from four body cameras worn by those who interacted with the inmate. These recordings did not include audio because the officers had failed to activate sound recording, as explained by James during a press briefing. She described the visuals as “shocking and disturbing,” advising viewers to exercise discretion when watching them.

The video depicts officers from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) assaulting Brooks, who was handcuffed with his hands behind his back. The officers struck him in the chest with a shoe, slapped him in the face, and lifted him by the neck, as reported by US media.

Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017. He was mistreated at Marcy Correctional Facility soon after being transferred from another prison located in Oneida County, which is in the northwest part of the state.

He was declared dead on the morning of December 10 at a nearby hospital, where he had been transferred from the jail’s medical examination room. An initial medical report indicates that Brooks may have died due to strangulation.

Elizabeth Mazur, the attorney representing the Brooks family, stated that the footage shows he “was fatally and violently beaten by a group of officers whose job was to ensure his safety.” She also mentioned that “everyone else living at Marcy Correctional Facility deserves assurance they don’t have to fear violence from prison staff.”

In a statement, the union representing state correctional officers described the incident as “utterly incomprehensible and not at all representative of the excellent work that most of our members perform daily.”

“The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association emphasized that this behavior is unacceptable to us.”