Lawmakers Demand Accountability After Death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility
Lawmakers across New York State are urging an independent investigation and comprehensive reforms following the death of Robert Brooks, 39, at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County, NY, earlier this month.
State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie described the incident as "deeply disturbing," noting that "Mr. Brooks was shackled and defenseless" during what he called a "brutal and extended beating." Heastie demanded accountability for all involved, stating, “Mr. Brooks was convicted and serving time for his crime, but beating, torture, and death were not part of his sentence. Justice demands accountability for every individual involved in Mr. Brooks' brutalization, as well as those who stood by and allowed this abomination to occur.”
Brooks, a resident of Greece, NY, died on December 10 following what the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) referred to as an "encounter with correctional officers." Preliminary reports indicate that Brooks was restrained after an alleged altercation and later became unresponsive. He was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to a nearby medical facility. Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017 and was transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility just hours before the incident.
The state attorney general’s Office of Special Investigation is examining the circumstances of Brooks’ death, including the actions of the correctional officers involved. In response to public outcry, limited body-camera footage and surveillance video have been released, capturing the events leading up to Brooks' restraint.
“These videos are shocking and disturbing, and I advise all to take appropriate care before choosing to watch them,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. The footage depicts Brooks, handcuffed and seated on a medical examination table, being repeatedly punched in the face and groin by multiple officers. One officer is seen striking Brooks in the chest with a shoe, while another lifts him by the neck and drops him onto the table. Despite Brooks becoming unresponsive, the officers continue their assault, removing his shirt and pants as he lies motionless and bloodied.
Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the termination of the corrections officers implicated in Brooks’ fatal attack. “Like all New Yorkers, I was outraged and horrified after seeing footage of the senseless killing of Robert Brooks. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has a duty to provide appropriate care and protection for those in its custody. I will not tolerate violations of that responsibility,” Hochul said. She directed DOCCS Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci to initiate termination proceedings against the 14 individuals involved in the attack.
Advocacy groups, including the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and the Correctional Association of New York, have joined lawmakers in calling for a federal investigation. “The conditions in New York’s prisons represent a longstanding crisis,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the NYCLU. “The death of Mr. Brooks underscores the urgent need for independent oversight and systemic change.”
Brooks’ family has retained legal representation and is reportedly considering civil action. His death has intensified the ongoing national conversation about conditions in correctional facilities and the treatment of incarcerated individuals. Lawmakers have pledged to revisit criminal justice reform legislation in the upcoming legislative session, with Brooks’ case serving as a catalyst for change.
Preliminary findings from a medical examination, reported by the Associated Press, indicate that Brooks’ death resulted from “asphyxia due to compression of the neck” and has been classified as a homicide.
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