NEW YORK — The death of an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility has prompted an investigation by New York state police as the prison system faces turmoil from an ongoing unsanctioned staff strike.
Authorities announced that they are looking into the circumstances surrounding the demise of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi, who passed away on Saturday while in a hospital in Utica. In press statements, officials maintained tight-lipped, releasing no further details. Reports, however, suggest that Nantwi might have been subjected to physical abuse by correctional officers, according to the accounts of other inmates.
Nantwi was a young man described by Stan German, director of the New York County Defender Services, as intelligent yet troubled, grappling with mental health issues due to a violent and difficult upbringing. At the time of his death, Nantwi was awaiting trial in connection to a 2023 double homicide.
“Even though he was incarcerated, Nantwi deserved fundamental respect and security, rights denied by a hostile culture in the state correctional facilities,” German remarked, expressing dismay at what he terms a tragic death perpetrated by correctional officers.
Details remain scant as officials, including corrections department spokesperson Thomas Mailey, have refrained from elaborating on the circumstances of Nantwi’s death. However, it’s reported that eleven staff members have been placed on administrative leave as investigations by police continue.
The case takes place against the backdrop of mounting tensions within the prison system, exacerbated by a weekslong strike by prison guards. The strike has led to actions from officials, including the termination of several officers and the revocation of health benefits for others refusing to comply with directives to end the strike.
Amid this, Jackie Bray, the state’s homeland security commissioner, announced the repercussions of continued participation in the strike, noting that starting Sunday, terminated officers also faced loss of health insurance, affecting their dependents too.
Only a handful of officers have reportedly been relieved of their duties thus far, but numerous others stand to lose their health benefits. Efforts to obtain a statement from the union representing the officers were unsuccessful.
Criticism from advocates like Jose Saldana, of the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, labels the strike as a diversion from the pressing issue of inmate mistreatment. Saldana argued that correctional guards are coercing incarcerated individuals for gains in authoritative power.
Adding to the contentious environment are claims of severe misconduct at Mid-State Correctional Facility. Stan German asserts that the facility has long suffered systemic issues, citing a lawsuit that brought to light multiple abuse allegations including violent and sexual assaults carried out by officers along with subsequent threats to suppress complaints.
“Superficial assurances no longer suffice for the protection of inmates’ welfare,” German’s statement urges, pointing to indisputable evidence of systemic failures.
Initially, correction officers began their walkout on February 17 in protest against challenging working conditions. Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an accord aiming to halt the illegal strike by specifying improvements such as addressing staffing deficits, reducing mandatory overtime, and bettering pay conditions.
Despite being illegal under state laws that prohibit public employee strikes, prison visiting remains canceled as conditions slowly improve with a reduction in striking facilities. The National Guard was deployed to ensure continued operations as correctional officers failed to return as part of the agreed terms.
