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Several employees from Marcy Correctional Facility are expected in court today (Thursday, February 20) in connection with the death of inmate Robert Brooks. Brooks, 43, died in December after being beaten by guards at the facility. The incident, captured on body cameras, showed officers punching and kicking Brooks while he was restrained in the prison's infirmary. He was later taken to a hospital where he died, and his death was ruled a homicide due to compression of the neck and multiple blunt impact injuries, according to an autopsy report.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, serving as a special prosecutor, announced a "noteworthy development" in the case, which will be revealed in Oneida County Court. The state Attorney General's office recused itself due to conflicts of interest, as it represents some of the accused officers in other civil lawsuits.
The arraignments of at least nine prison employees, who are expected to face charges in sealed indictments, were postponed to today. Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the firing of over a dozen employees implicated in the attack. Brooks' family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming systemic abuse within the prison system.
The case has drawn attention to alleged abuse at Marcy Correctional Facility, with previous reports of staff misconduct. The Correctional Association of New York highlighted "rampant abuse" at the facility, including physical assaults in areas without cameras.