A New York prison will have a new leader after a disturbing incident where an inmate was assaulted by correctional officers, leading to his subsequent death. Governor Kathy Hochul announced this change following her recent visit to the Marcy Correctional Facility.
Body camera footage released shortly before the governor’s visit displayed officers attacking Robert Brooks while he was restrained on a medical examination table on December 9. Brooks was pronounced dead the following morning, raising serious concerns regarding the use of force within the facility.
In response to this tragedy, Governor Hochul has initiated the termination of 13 officers and a nurse linked to the incident. In addition, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brooks’ death has been launched by the State Attorney General Letitia James. The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice are also conducting their own reviews, although they have opted not to release further details at this time.
During her visit to the facility located in central New York, Hochul engaged with both the leadership of the corrections department and individuals housed within the prison. “The system failed Mr. Brooks, and I will not rest until there is a meaningful cultural shift,” she stated emphatically.
The announcement included the appointment of Bennie Thorpe, who has over 20 years of experience in corrections, as the new superintendent of Marcy Correctional Facility. Despite having no previous tenure at Marcy, his fresh outlook and extensive knowledge are seen as critical for implementing necessary changes, according to the governor’s office.
Additionally, the governor plans to bolster the staff within the state corrections department’s special investigations unit to better address complaints and has directed the hiring of an external firm to evaluate the overall culture and practices across the correctional system.
In a bid to enhance accountability, Hochul revealed that the corrections department has expanded its policy mandating the activation of body cameras whenever staff interact with inmates. “Today, as I stood in the room where Robert Brooks lost his life, I was reminded of the immense tragedy of this preventable death. It is absolutely disheartening to reflect on the actions of those devoid of compassion,” she expressed. “Mr. Brooks and his family deserved so much better.”
The recently released body camera video continues to spark outrage, depicting scenes of officers delivering blows to Brooks’ face, groin, and body while he was cuffed. In one particularly shocking moment, an officer is seen lifting Brooks by his neck before slamming him back onto the table, while another officer strikes him with a shoe.
The results of Brooks’ autopsy are still pending, but preliminary reports have raised alarms regarding potential asphyxiation linked to external neck compression, indicating that his death may have stemmed from the actions of others, as noted in legal documents. Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017 and had just arrived at Marcy Correctional Facility shortly before the violent encounter, having been transferred from a nearby prison.
