The New York State Police are currently looking into the recent death of an inmate at an upstate medium security prison over the weekend. Governor Kathy Hochul described the reports as “deeply troubling.” Although specific details about the inmate’s death at the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy on Saturday have not been fully disclosed, The New York Times reported that nine prisoners alleged that the inmate had been severely assaulted by corrections officers.
This tragic event comes in the wake of the death of another state inmate, Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old Black man, who authorities stated was beaten by correctional officers in December at a different prison in Marcy, located less than a mile from Mid-State.
State police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Saturday’s death. State police spokesperson Beau Duffy informed CNN via email on Sunday that further information could not be immediately provided. According to The New York Times, seven out of the nine prisoners who disclosed information about the alleged beating were willing to be identified.
During a press conference on Monday in New York City, Governor Hochul expressed her concern over the situation, stating, “It is very much under investigation. Deeply troubling. The actual cause of death is not known, but it is my highest priority to get to the bottom of this and find out what happened.”
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed the inmate’s death in a statement released on Saturday, obtained by CNN affiliate WKTV. The department mentioned that they would withhold the deceased inmate’s name until their next of kin is notified.
The statement from the department reads, “An incarcerated individual was taken from Mid-State Correctional Facility to an outside hospital earlier today (Saturday) and declared dead a short time later.” It also emphasized that any death deemed to be from anything other than natural causes or a known medical condition is subject to investigation by various agencies, including the state attorney general’s office, New York State Police, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
A representative from Attorney General Letitia James’ office mentioned that the “Office of Special Investigation is conducting a preliminary assessment of the matter.”
The Legal Aid Society, a nonprofit law firm representing low-income New Yorkers, issued a statement urging the state’s corrections department to release all camera footage and information related to the incident. The group condemned the recent death of a 22-year-old at Mid-State Correctional Facility, alleging that the individual was violently attacked by the staff, similar to the case of Robert Brooks.
The tragedy was described as highlighting a culture of staff violence within New York’s prisons, emphasizing the critical need for transparency, accountability, and reform, the group emphasized.
In February, six prison workers were indicted on murder charges in connection with Brooks’ death. Reports indicated that Brooks passed away in the early hours of December 10 after being assaulted by correctional officers while restrained at Marcy Correctional Facility.
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