New York Governor Hochul Implements Prison Reforms Following Inmate’s Death from Beating
The governor has advocated for the implementation of body-worn cameras, mandating that all corrections officers keep them activated during their engagements with inmates.
On December 31, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced reforms to the state’s prison regulations following the tragic beating of Robert Brooks, an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility.
Following her visit to the facility after the incident, the governor outlined a range of reforms aimed at preventing misconduct by prison staff, promoting the reporting of such incidents, and enhancing the overall environment and practices within New York state prisons.
“Today, I am instituting several new policies at Marcy and within DOCCS [Department of Corrections and Community Supervision], and I am eager to continue receiving input from experts, elected officials, and advocates as we move forward with this initiative.”
According to footage released by the state’s attorney general, multiple correctional officers were involved in the December 9 beating of Brooks while he was restrained in a prison infirmary. He was subsequently moved to a hospital, where he was declared dead on December 10.
Brooks was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault, stemming from an incident in which he repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend in April 2016.
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Investigations into the beating have been initiated by State Attorney General Letitia James, the FBI, and the Department of Justice.
The governor has instructed DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello to appoint Shawangunk Correctional Facility Superintendent Bernie Thorpe as the new permanent superintendent of Marcy.
Additionally, she has expedited the allocation of $400 million for the adoption of body-worn cameras and the installation of permanent cameras in all DOCCS-operated facilities, enforcing the requirement that all correctional officers activate their cameras during inmate interactions.
Hochul has tasked DOCCS with hiring an external firm to review the department’s internal culture and policies; she has mandated an increase in staffing for the Department of Special Investigations to ensure a quicker response to complaints; she has taken measures to extend the whistleblower hotline; and she has initiated several other actions aimed at fostering partnerships with external organizations dedicated to protecting the rights and welfare of inmates.
By the time of publication, DOCCS and the governor’s office had not responded to requests for comments.
