(LibertySociety.com) – Correctional officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York have come under intense scrutiny following the release of video footage showing them violently assaulting a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, who died hours later.
The footage, made public by New York Attorney General Letitia James, shows officers striking the 43-year-old inmate repeatedly while he was restrained on a medical examination table. The officers punched Brooks in the face and groin, hit him with a shoe, and at one point, lifted him by his neck before dropping him back onto the table. The video ends with Brooks lying motionless and bloodied as officers strip him of his shirt and pants.
Brooks, who had been transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility just hours before the assault, was taken to a hospital after the incident and pronounced dead the following day. Preliminary medical findings suggest asphyxia due to neck compression as a cause of death, with the actions of the correctional staff identified as contributing factors. The final autopsy results are still pending.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has since ordered the dismissal of over a dozen individuals involved in the incident, including correctional officers and a nurse. Attorney General James’ office is conducting an investigation into the use of force, while advocacy groups and Brooks’ family are demanding accountability and systemic reform.
Elizabeth Mazur, an attorney representing the Brooks family, condemned the attack, stating, “Mr. Brooks was fatally, violently beaten by a group of officers whose job was to keep him safe. He deserved to live, and everyone else living in Marcy Correctional Facility deserves to know they do not have to live in fear of violence at the hands of prison staff.”
The Correctional Association of New York expressed outrage, calling the incident indicative of a broader culture of abuse and systemic issues. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association also issued a statement decrying the actions captured on video, acknowledging the harm to both inmates and the reputation of the profession.
The body camera footage, which lacks audio because the officers had not activated the recording function, has prompted the Department of Corrections to mandate that body cameras be turned on during all inmate interactions going forward.
Attorney General James described the footage as deeply disturbing, emphasizing the need for accountability and cautioning viewers about its graphic nature. The incident has reignited calls for reform in New York’s correctional system and heightened scrutiny of how justice is administered within its prisons.
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