Fatal Beating of Handcuffed Inmate at New York Prison Prompts Statewide Reforms

Robert Brooks' death following a violent assault by corrections officers has led to investigations, protests, and promises of systemic changes in New York's prison system.

Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility, died on December 10 after being violently beaten by corrections officers while handcuffed and restrained in a medical exam room.
Body camera footage released by the New York Attorney General shows officers repeatedly striking Brooks, with preliminary autopsy findings indicating death by asphyxiation due to neck compression.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the termination of 14 corrections employees, appointed a new prison superintendent, and announced $400 million in funding for fixed and body-worn cameras across state prisons.
The FBI, Department of Justice, and New York Attorney General’s Office are investigating the incident, while activists and advocates highlight a broader culture of abuse within the state's correctional system.
Past lawsuits and reports detail longstanding allegations of brutality, racial discrimination, and cover-ups at Marcy Correctional Facility, including prior accusations against officers involved in Brooks' death.