NEW YORK — Newly released footage depicting a deadly incident inside a New York prison has shocked the public, showing correctional officers violently attacking a restrained inmate. The video captures the assault on Robert Brooks, an incarcerated individual who was subjected to a brutal beating while handcuffed at the Marcy Correctional Facility. The footage was revealed by the state attorney general on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into the actions of the officers involved.
Brooks, aged 43, succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead at a hospital the following morning after the assault that occurred on December 9. New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her outrage at the disturbing footage, emphasizing that it depicted a “senseless killing” and announced that 13 correctional officers and a nurse involved in the incident would face termination.
The released video shows officers delivering repeated punches to Brooks’s face and groin while he is secured on a medical examination table. One officer is seen using a shoe to strike Brooks in the stomach, while another pulls him up by the neck before forcefully slamming him back down. The officers remove Brooks’s clothing while he lays motionless and bleeding on the table. Attorney General Letitia James described the footage as both shocking and disturbing, advising caution to those who choose to view it.
Autopsy results for Brooks are pending, but initial indications suggest that his death may have been caused by neck compression, linked to the actions of others. It is worth noting that the video lacks audio as the officers had failed to activate their body cameras during the incident. Following Brooks’s death, the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced a new directive mandating the use of body cameras in all interactions between staff and incarcerated individuals.
James has stated that her office is actively looking into the use of force leading to Brooks’ death but has not confirmed whether legal charges will be filed against any of the officers. Brooks’ family lawyer, Elizabeth Mazur, remarked on the release of the videos, highlighting the “horrific and extreme nature” of Brooks’ fatal beating and stressing that no inmate should have to fear violence from prison staff.
The union representing state correctional officers, which had previewed the footage before its public release, expressed its shock and labeled the incident as a gross deviation from the professional standards upheld by most officers. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association stated that such behavior jeopardizes the safety of their members and undermines the credibility of the entire profession.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault that began in 2017 and had just arrived at Marcy Correctional Facility from another state prison mere hours before the assault. Located approximately 200 miles northwest of New York City, Marcy is situated between the cities of Rome and Utica.
The Correctional Association of New York, an organization dedicated to monitoring prison conditions, reported previous incidents of systemic brutality and racism within Marcy during a 2021 oversight visit. Executive Director Jennifer Scaife termed the footage “sickening and appalling, but not surprising,” urging state authorities to confront the ongoing issues that allow such violence to thrive.
Tina Luongo, a chief attorney at The Legal Aid Society in New York City, echoed calls for transparency regarding the use of force by state correctional staff, labeling the attack on Brooks as “a grotesque display of inhumanity.” She remarked that it is crucial to address the normalcy of such violence that often goes unnoticed once media coverage fades.
David Condliffe, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Community Alternatives, asserted that the footage reflects a longstanding culture of calculated cruelty within the prison system. He stated that many instances of violence and misconduct go unreported or are rationalized, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability that extends beyond the dismissal of a few individuals involved.
