Handcuffed Inmate Dies After Brutal Beating by Prison Guards at Marcy Correctional Facility

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The incident involving the fatal beating of a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, by prison guards at the Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County, New York, has drawn significant attention and outrage. The body camera footage, released by New York Attorney General Letitia James, shows multiple correctional officers pummeling Brooks while he was restrained. The footage, which was made public on December 27, 2024, reveals the brutal nature of the attack, including punching, kicking, and other forms of physical abuse.

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Brooks, 43, was being transferred from the Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9, 2024. The attack occurred in a medical exam room before 9:30 p.m. In the footage, Brooks can be seen with his hands cuffed behind his back, being punched by two officers, and then forcefully yanked from a bed by his shirt collar, leaving his face visibly bloodied. He was later taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

An autopsy found preliminary concerns for asphyxia due to compression of the neck, indicating that the cause of death was due to the actions of the officers. The incident has led to the suspension of 14 workers at the facility, including correctional officers, sergeants, and a prison nurse. All have been suspended without pay, except for one officer who resigned.

Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned the actions of the officers and ordered the firing process to begin for the involved workers. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association has also expressed its condemnation, stating that the actions of the officers are "incomprehensible" and not reflective of the broader membership's conduct.

This incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability and reform within the corrections system. The Correctional Association of New York, an independent prison oversight group, has previously reported rampant physical abuse at the Marcy Correctional Facility, with 80% of incarcerated people witnessing or experiencing abuse and nearly 70% reporting racial discrimination or bias.