What to KnowThe son of an inmate who died after a protracted beating by New York jail guards mentioned in a federal lawsuit Wednesday that his father’s attackers “systematically and casually beat him to death” in a correctional system that tolerates violence.Robert L. Brooks Sr., 43, died on Dec. 10, a day after the beating at Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Physique digicam video exhibits officers repeatedly punching and kicking Brooks, whose fingers had been cuffed behind his again. Officers struck him within the chest with a shoe and lifted him by the neck and dropped him whereas staff who had been watching the beating appeared detached.
The son of an inmate who died after a protracted beating by New York jail guards mentioned in a federal lawsuit Wednesday that his father’s attackers “systematically and casually beat him to death” in a correctional system that tolerates violence.
Robert L. Brooks Sr., 43, died on Dec. 10, a day after the beating at Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Physique digicam video exhibits officers repeatedly punching and kicking Brooks, whose fingers had been cuffed behind his again. Officers struck him within the chest with a shoe and lifted him by the neck and dropped him whereas staff who had been watching the beating appeared detached.
His son, Robert L. Brooks Jr., sued the group of greater than a dozen guards implicated within the assault, in addition to the top of the upstate facility at the moment and the commissioner of the state Division of Corrections and Group Supervision.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges that defendants on the jail used extreme pressure and had been detached to his severe medical want. It additionally claims gross negligence and wrongful demise.
New York’s lawyer common this month appointed a particular prosecutor to research Brooks’ demise. Onondaga County District Lawyer William Fitzpatrick took over the case as a particular prosecutor after Lawyer Normal Letitia James recused herself, citing her workplace’s illustration of a number of officers in separate civil lawsuits.
The outcomes of Brooks’ post-mortem haven’t been made publicly obtainable. However preliminary findings from a medical examination point out “concern for asphyxia due to compression of the neck as the cause of death, as well as the death being due to actions of another,” in keeping with court docket filings.
The lawsuit says the beating was the only explanation for Brooks’ demise.
The lawsuit notes {that a} watchdog group in 2023 reported “rampant abuse by staff” at Marcy after interviewing individuals incarcerated there in October 2022. The Correctional Affiliation of New York mentioned they had been advised of bodily assaults in areas with out cameras, equivalent to between the gates, in vans and in showers. A guard advised one new arrival that this was a “‘hands-on facility,’ we’re going to place fingers on you if we don’t like what you’re doing,” in keeping with the report.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered state officers to provoke proceedings to fireplace staff implicated within the assault. Fifteen correctional officers and two nurses had been suspended with out pay. One officer give up. Hochul additionally appointed a brand new chief for the jail 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of New York Metropolis.
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Related Press author Michael Hill contributed from Altamont, New York.
