A group of guards at Marcy prison in upstate New York brutally beat a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, 43, seven hours before he died. The incident was caught on video and has sparked outrage among advocates for the rights of formerly incarcerated individuals.
The state’s highest court has recently moved to fire the 13 guards involved, but none have been criminally charged in connection with Brooks’ death. Attorney General Letitia James initially handled the case but appointed a special prosecutor after discovering a conflict of interest.
Experts say that the lack of accountability for prison violence is part of a larger problem. “The reality is that DOCCS leadership has tolerated officers’ violence against incarcerated people for too long, allowing officers to beat people in their custody and cover up these beatings without consequence,” said Katie Rosenfeld, lawyer for Mathew Raymond.
According to state records, 143 people died inside a state prison last year – the highest total in five years. Many of these deaths are labeled as natural causes, but some remain undetermined. The state attorney general’s office has not brought charges against prison staff in any of these cases.
The incident has been likened to the infamous “Rodney King moment” and has sparked calls for greater accountability from those in power. Critics say that the lack of action taken by law enforcement agencies is a double standard, with officers facing harsher penalties for harming civilians than for harming inmates.
Source: https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/01/03/former-prisoners-say-robert-brooks-beating-routine