Shocking Abuse Claims at Marcy Prison Spark Investigations

In 2022, a report by the Corrections Association of New York (CANY) raised serious concerns about abuse at Marcy Correctional Facility. The report urged investigations into the widespread claims of abuse that have surfaced. One such incident led to the death of an inmate named Roberts Brooks in early December. Footage inside the prison showed corrections officers beating Brooks while he was restrained. He was later transported to a hospital where he died. During an October 2022 visit, CANY interviewed several inmates at the facility. Many shared harrowing experiences of physical abuse. One inmate mentioned being told upon arrival that the facility was a "hands-on" place. Another revealed that staff bragged about the number of inmates they had beaten or sprayed with chemicals.

Surveys and interviews revealed that 80% of inmates questioned had either witnessed or been victims of staff abuse. Additionally, 67% reported seeing or experiencing racialized abuse, including frequent use of racial slurs and unequal treatment based on race. Inmates from Special Housing Units also shared their experiences, with one describing the staff as "like the scum of the Earth. " Several officers involved in the deadly beating of Robert Brooks had been named in previous lawsuits alleging violence against inmates. One lawsuit described an inmate being chemically sprayed and then beaten, resulting in permanent facial deformity. Another lawsuit detailed a vicious assault in a bathroom, where an inmate was hit over the head with a clipboard, requiring 20 stitches. The FBI Albany Field Office and the Department of Justice are currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding Robert Brooks' death to determine the appropriate federal response.

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