“Prisoners’ lives matter, no matter the circumstances. Every life deserves dignity, respect, and justice.”
Over the years, I’ve traveled to prisons around the world, witnessing firsthand the brutal realities faced by incarcerated individuals. Some prisons stand out as examples of humanity, while others reflect the darkest corners of the human experience. My journey has taken me from the progressive prisons of Norway, where people are treated with dignity and respect, to the horrifying Russian colonies, where people are left to die in unbearable conditions. I have visited countless prisons in the United States, from federal institutions to county jails, each with its own set of challenges and injustices.
In Norway, prisons focus on rehabilitation. Inmates are treated as individuals, given the tools to reintegrate into society, and are shown that they are still valued human beings. This is a stark contrast to the horrors of Russian prison colonies, where there are no windows, food is scarce, diseases run rampant, and inmates are subjected to brutality, sometimes to the point of death. These prisons are often isolated in remote locations, far from civilization, a deliberate choice made under Stalin’s regime to punish and silence those deemed undeserving of life.
I’ve seen similar atrocities in the U.S. system, too. Some facilities are run with integrity, providing basic human needs, but far too many are riddled with corruption, neglect, and cruelty. The closing of FCI Dublin, once infamously known as a “rape house,” was a bittersweet moment. Women were systematically assaulted by staff for years, a tragedy that only ended after years of relentless efforts by advocates. But while shutting down a facility is one step forward, it’s far from the solution. The way we treat those in vulnerable situations—whether incarcerated or not—needs a complete overhaul.
This morning, I woke up to yet another horrific story: an inmate was brutally beaten to death, handcuffed in front of others, at the hands of a correctional officer. It is 2024, and this is still happening. We have yet to understand the fundamental truth of human nature: we are all entitled to dignity, respect, and life. Those who are incarcerated are not subhuman. They do not forfeit their right to be treated with compassion, nor do they forfeit the right to live. It is not up to those in positions of power—be it correctional officers, police, or law enforcement—to take someone’s life or rob them of their humanity. That is not their right.
I’ve stepped away from practicing law, but some days, I wonder if I should return. However, I know that my efforts would likely be in vain—stuck in a cycle of legal loopholes and systemic failures. Instead, I have chosen to be an advocate. I stand for those who have no voice, those whose voices have been stolen by the very systems meant to protect them. Today, we must stand up for those who are vulnerable, those who are isolated, and those who have been silenced.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a “gangster” or a “gang member”—once you’re behind bars, you become a prisoner. And as a prisoner, you are often stripped of your rights, your dignity, and your humanity. It’s not just the inmates who wear uniforms; correctional officers, lieutenants, captains, police officers, sheriffs—all of them have power over lives. But with that power comes an unshakable responsibility to treat people with respect.
Today is the day that we can no longer stand by and allow this injustice to continue. It’s time to demand change. It’s time to demand accountability from those who wield power and control. We cannot let this cycle of abuse and dehumanization persist. It is on us—each and every one of us—to use our voices to call for an end to this cruelty. It’s time to make this world a place where every person, no matter their circumstances, is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. Enough is enough.
His Name Was Robert Brooks
The murder of Robert Brooks, at the hands of ruthless and cowardly individuals within New York’s public correction system, is beyond words. While the names of the correctional officers involved have yet to be released, the footage of the incident is deeply disturbing. As I watched the video, I was horrified by the sight of multiple individuals surrounding Brooks, with a nurse present during the assault. What kind of people are working in this correctional facility? It is clear that Marcy Correctional Facility is a place rife with violence and systemic issues. It’s hard to understand why this facility remains open given the numerous reports of abuse and misconduct.
Robert Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence, not a life sentence, and had only recently been transferred to Marcy. So, what justified the officers’ ruthless behavior toward him? Why were they allowed to act with such disregard for his life? The fact that the names of these officers are being kept hidden raises serious concerns. They should be held accountable, not protected. The public deserves to know who is responsible for this senseless act.
This case is not just about one individual—it’s about all those who are incarcerated, often with no voice to defend themselves. Just as the Black Lives Matter movement has fought for justice, it’s time for us to stand up for the lives of all prisoners. Every inmate deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, not subjected to violence and inhumanity. This is a movement that needs to grow, so we can put an end to the heinous acts occurring behind prison walls.
It is time for the New York Governor to take action and shut down facilities like Marcy Correctional, which perpetuate cruelty. We must lower the prison population and ensure that those who are incarcerated are treated fairly and humanely. Robert Brooks’ death should serve as a wake-up call for all of us, and it’s time for meaningful change. Let’s unite to stop these abuses and demand accountability.
A newly released video of a fatal beating at a New York prison shows correctional officers repeatedly striking a handcuffed man, including hitting him in the chest with a shoe and lifting him by the neck before dropping him. The body camera footage, made public on Friday, shows the December 9 assault on 43-year-old Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility, located in Oneida County. Brooks was pronounced dead at a hospital the morning after the incident.
Thirteen correctional officers and a nurse implicated in the attack will face termination, as confirmed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who expressed her outrage and horror over the “senseless killing.”
The released footage shows officers punching Brooks in the face and groin while he sits handcuffed on a medical exam table. One officer uses a shoe to strike him in the stomach, while another lifts him by the neck and drops him back onto the table. The officers proceed to remove his shirt and pants as he lies motionless, bloodied, and unresponsive.
Attorney General Letitia James, who is investigating the use of force, described the footage as “shocking and disturbing” and advised viewers to exercise caution before watching the videos. The final autopsy results are still pending, but preliminary findings suggest that Brooks died due to asphyxia from neck compression, with his death attributed to the actions of others.
The body camera footage does not contain audio, as the officers’ cameras had not been activated at the time. In response to Brooks’s death, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has issued a directive requiring staff to activate body cameras during all interactions with incarcerated individuals.
A lawyer representing Brooks’s family, Elizabeth Mazur, stated that the video reveals the “horrific and extreme” nature of the attack, highlighting the failure of the officers, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of inmates. Mazur emphasized that Brooks “deserved to live,” and that others at Marcy Correctional Facility should be assured they do not have to live in fear of such violence from prison staff.
The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, which represents the correctional officers, condemned the incident, calling it “incomprehensible” and not reflective of the work the majority of their members do daily. The union expressed concern that the incident undermines the integrity of the profession and threatens the safety of correctional staff.
Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017 and had just been transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility hours before the assault. Marcy is located about 200 miles northwest of New York City.
The Demand for Accountability: Time to Hold Correctional Officers Responsible for Murder
The brutal murder of Robert Brooks in a New York state prison has sparked outrage and calls for justice. The horrifying footage of the incident, in which correctional officers are seen involved in a violent attack against Brooks, has left the public in shock. State authorities are investigating this tragic event, along with other instances of “unconscionable violence” against inmates at various facilities in the state, according to state Senator Julia Salazar, who chairs the Senate’s committee on corrections.
Senator Salazar is demanding the immediate arrest of the officers involved and the closure of the prison where the killing occurred. “It should not even be possible for this to happen in a New York state prison,” she said. “We demand, and fully expect, all officers involved to face criminal charges for their roles in enabling and committing this barbaric violence that led to Robert Brooks’ death. We must act quickly to pass legislation that ensures no human being will ever suffer in this way again, and that holds accountable everyone responsible for the horrific violence in New York’s prisons and jails.”
The call for justice is growing louder, with State Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs — the first formerly incarcerated state lawmaker — adding his voice to the chorus of condemnation. Gibbs, who serves on the Assembly’s committee on corrections, expressed his outrage at the tragic event. “To say I am outraged by this incident is an understatement,” he said in a statement. “The punishment for a crime is incarceration, not death — certainly not to be beaten to death by those entrusted with keeping you safe. Depraved incidents like this put everyone at risk inside these facilities.”
The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), which represents correctional officers, has also condemned the officers’ actions, although it has stated that it will continue to defend those involved. James Miller, spokesperson for the union, referred to the officers’ conduct as “reprehensible” but emphasized the union’s obligation to defend them from administrative charges. “These actions are a disgrace to our profession and jeopardize the safety of everyone inside our facilities,” Miller stated. “As correction officers and sergeants, we have a duty to protect everyone in a correctional facility.”
While the union’s statement focuses on defending its members, it also highlights the importance of maintaining professionalism and selflessness in the role of a correctional officer. “NYSCOPBA will continue to fulfill its legal obligation to defend all members from administrative charges, regardless of severity or public outcry,” Miller said. “However, as more information becomes available, we must focus on advocating for those members who consistently demonstrate professionalism and selflessness in their work.”
It seems to me that Miller is part of what could be called the “bad boys club,” which appears to have some very troubling representation, including a nurse. Perhaps they should all get tattoos that read “integrity” on their foreheads. How can anyone defend these officers? It’s clear as day that they murdered a man while others stood by, and the nurse was present. If you see something, you need to say something. No matter what the situation, there are ways to de-escalate things—restraining an inmate, providing ketamine, calming them down—but punching someone who is handcuffed, especially when they are in a vulnerable state and unable to fight back, is not self-defense. Who are we defending here? A group of killers?
And this union — what kind of union is it? It seems like the “bad boys club” has its own brand of protection. New York still hasn’t learned from its past mistakes, and the corruption runs deep. It’s a classic case of the good ol’ boys club, perhaps with an Irish influence, just as it has been for decades.
Miller needs to seriously reconsider his potential conflict of interest in this case. Given the ongoing investigation, it appears that there are efforts to suppress more footage and paint this as a case of self-defense by the correctional officers. But it’s hard to ignore the facts. The officer who assaulted Robert Brooks is an older, angry, privileged man—clearly overweight and not in control of the situation. It’s time to call this out for what it is.
As the investigation continues, the public is demanding that the officers involved in Brooks’ death be held fully accountable. They must be named, charged, and sent to prison for their actions. The system cannot continue to protect those responsible for violence against vulnerable individuals behind bars. It is clear that the time has come for systemic change within the prison system.
It’s not the first time Marcy Correctional Facility has faced accusations of abuse or misconduct.
In 2016, reports emerged about severe beatings and neglect at the nearby Mid-State Correctional Facility, which shares its location with Marcy. The incident involved multiple allegations of physical abuse by correctional officers and the neglect of inmates’ medical needs, resulting in significant injuries. The reports prompted lawsuits against the facility and increased scrutiny over the practices of the correctional officers. This case raised concerns about the culture of violence and indifference within the facilities, leading to calls for reform and better oversight of New York’s correctional system.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s office has not commented on whether protests are planned following the release of the disturbing footage. However, activists, family members of the incarcerated, and the broader public continue to call for swift action. In light of these horrific incidents, it is time for New York to confront the reality of the violence within its prisons and make significant changes to ensure such atrocities never happen again. The people behind these crimes must face justice, and the prison system must be held accountable for failing to protect those under its care.
As more and more voices join in the call for justice, the demand is clear: No one, not even those in positions of power within the prison system, should be above the law. It’s time to ensure that accountability reigns and that justice is served for Robert Brooks and all those affected by similar violence in the New York state prison system.
The Correctional Association of New York, an oversight organization, had documented reports of systemic brutality and racism within the Marcy Correctional Facility during a visit two years prior. Its executive director, Jennifer Scaife, called the footage “sickening and appalling” but unsurprising, given their prior findings. She urged the state to address the “systemic issues” that enable such brutality.
David Condliffe, executive director of the Center for Community Alternatives, a nonprofit focused on alternatives to incarceration, stated that while the footage is shocking, countless other instances of prison violence go unreported or are justified. He stressed that accountability must extend beyond firing individuals and called for a broader examination of the prison system, which he argued is steeped in impunity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the problem at Marcy Correctional Facility is just one example of a broader issue that plagues correctional institutions across the country. For those who have loved ones behind bars or have worked as correctional officers, the stories of brutality, harassment, sexual assault, and ongoing power struggles are all too familiar. These issues are not limited to New York or any one facility— they are systemic problems that stretch nationwide.
It’s not just about violence. There is also the issue of contraband trafficking, where some correctional officers exploit their positions for personal gain, using the job as a means to buy houses and expensive cars. While I don’t blame individuals for trying to make ends meet, the job’s core responsibility is to maintain safety, control, and order within the prison system. If the job is simply a means to money without regard for its ethical implications, it reflects poorly on the entire system.
We need to speak up and demand accountability. If we think this is only happening in isolated cases, we are mistaken. The fact that one case of brutality has leaked to the press is proof that there are many more hidden incidents. The fact that this continues in 2025 is unacceptable. Prisons like Marcy, Leavenworth, and Florence have already faced backlash and should have been shut down long ago. They are not safe, and they do not serve justice. The correctional officers in these facilities need a cultural shift— their mentality, their approach, and their treatment of inmates must change.
I witnessed this firsthand when I was in a prison parking lot, listening to a male and female officer discussing how they would “give nightmares” to the inmates, referring to them in degrading terms. The disturbing nature of their conversation was enough to convince me that the DOC has a serious problem. It’s not just about the facility itself; it’s the culture that needs to change. If we don’t address this now, we’ll continue to see the same results— a system that perpetuates violence and corruption. The time for change is now. We need to hold those in charge accountable and demand a transformation in how our correctional facilities operate.
Justice Unlocked. 
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