Overview

• Robert Brooks, a Black inmate serving a 12-year sentence, died on December 10 after being beaten by corrections officers while handcuffed at Marcy Correctional Facility.
• Bodycam footage shows officers repeatedly punching, kicking, and choking Brooks in a prison infirmary, leading to public outcry and calls for justice reform.
• Fourteen staff members, including 13 officers and one nurse, have been implicated; 13 have been suspended without pay, and one officer has resigned, though no formal charges have been filed yet.
• Governor Kathy Hochul has announced immediate reforms, including appointing a new superintendent for the facility, expanding body camera policies, and ordering a review of systemic practices in state prisons.
• The FBI, Department of Justice, and New York Attorney General's office are investigating the incident, as Brooks' family and community members demand accountability and systemic change.