Official announcements from federal authorities or the Department of Justice

Robert Brooks Beaten to Death by Correctional Officers at Marcy Facility; 13 Officers Terminated

Dec 29, 2024, 04:45 PM

New York Attorney General Letitia James released body-camera footage showing the brutal beating of 43-year-old inmate Robert Brooks by correctional officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County. The incident occurred on December 9, and Brooks died the following day in a hospital. The footage, which does not include audio, depicts officers repeatedly punching and kicking Brooks while he was handcuffed and seated on an examination table. The officers also used a shoe to strike him in the chest and lifted him by the neck before dropping him. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the termination of 13 correctional officers and a nurse involved in the attack. Preliminary autopsy findings suggest asphyxia due to neck compression as the cause of death. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has issued a directive mandating the use of body cameras during all staff interactions with inmates following Brooks' death. Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017. The Correctional Association of New York has reported pervasive brutality and racism at Marcy Correctional Facility, highlighting systemic issues within the prison system, as noted in a 2022 monitoring report.