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ALBANY, NY — Shocking and disturbing– that’s how New York State Attorney General Letitia James described video she released showing corrections officers punching and kicking a handcuffed inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility shortly before he died.
Eight videos recorded by body-worn cameras of four corrections officers were made public Friday, giving a glimpse into what happened at the prison the night of December 9th.
“As the Attorney General, I release these videos because I have a responsibility and duty to provide the Brooks family and loved ones and all New Yorkers with transparency and accountability,” James said.
The AG explained that the officers’ body-worn cameras were powered on but not activated, so the cameras were recording without sound.
Nonetheless, the footage paints a chilling picture of an inmate in distress, his hands shackled behind his back, as officers repeatedly strike him while other officers hold him down.
The body camera footage, graphic and unsettling, reveals the full scale of violence Brooks endured in the final hours of his life.
As he sits helplessly, officers are seen punching, kicking, and dragging him across the room. In one particularly jarring moment, an officer attempts to shove a white cloth into his mouth before continuing to punch him in the face.
Despite being restrained and covered in blood, Brooks continues to be pummeled by officers who appear to show no regard for his well-being.
The video has raised serious questions about the actions of the officers involved, and it has ignited outrage across New York.
Ta-Sean Murdock, Director of Operators for the Center For Law and Justice in Albany, described the incident as an example of unchecked violence and culture of impunity within the state’s correctional system.
Murdock added that Brooks’ death is a glaring reflection of a systemic issue that stretches far beyond Marcy Correctional Facility.
“I don’t think this would have happened if this inmate was white. And it’s also telling that this inmate who is a person of color is beaten while in restraints with 13 other corrections officers around him and they were all white. If that doesn’t say it’s systemic, thenI don’t know what is,” said Murdock.
While the governor has ordered the 14 people involved in the deadly beating to be fired, it’s not clear if that has happened. But Murdock says more needs to be done.
“There may need to be a shape up within the Department of Corrections. If we know these instances of abuse are happening and not only in Marcy Correctional Facility, there needs to be more done,” he said.
In a 2022 report, the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) found that 80% of inmates at Marcy Correctional Facility had witnessed or been subjected to verbal, physical, or sexual abuse by prison staff. Additionally, 67% of inmates reported experiencing or witnessing racialized abuse by staff.
As of now, no criminal charges have been filed against the officers involved in Brooks’ death. Attorney General Letitia James has promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brooks’ death.
“We are investigating this case thoroughly and using every tool at our disposal to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for the events that preceded Mr. Brooks’ death,” she said.
