Body Camera Footage Shows Fatal Beating of Inmate by New York State Corrections Officers
Body camera footage has sparked outrage and condemnation after showing the fatal beating of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old inmate at the Marcy Correctional Facility in central New York, at the hands of state corrections officers. The video shows officers repeatedly punching and kicking Brooks in the face, chest, and groin while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground.
The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations has opened an investigation into Brooks’ death, with Attorney General Letitia James describing the footage as “shocking and disturbing.” At least one of the officers involved, Anthony Farina, has resigned following the incident.
Experts who reviewed the video have criticized the use of force by the corrections officers, saying it was excessive and unnecessary. “I can’t believe the excessive force that these corrections officers used,” said Michael Alcazar, a retired NYPD Detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
The video shows Brooks being taken into a medical examination room by officers, where he was beaten while handcuffed and face down on the ground. The footage does not capture any audio or show what led up to the violence, but experts say the use of force was potentially excessive under the law.
“I think it’s particularly evident when officers are cleaning blood off Mr. Brooks’ face and then begin to strike him and continue to strike and grab him for the next 30 seconds,” said Bryce Peterson, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a senior research scientist at the Center for Justice Research and Innovation.
The incident has sparked calls for accountability and reform, with Governor Kathy Hochul ordering an investigation and directing the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to fire 14 people involved. Federal officials are also reviewing the case.
The New York affiliate of the ACLU has pointed to a “culture of officer brutality + abuse at Marcy” and called for the facility to be closed. A 2022 report by the Correctional Association of New York found multiple problems at the facility, including allegations of physical assaults by staff on inmates and pervasive allegations of racial discrimination.
The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has responded to the report, saying they have addressed or are in the process of addressing the majority of the recommendations. They highlighted a broad expansion of their body-worn camera program, which was critical in preserving evidence of the fatal attack on Brooks.
