NEW YORK (AP) — Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced on Tuesday that fifteen prison employees have been placed on leave in the wake of the death of an inmate at the Mid-State Correctional Facility. The Governor revealed that the staff members from the state department of corrections were suspended as a probe by the state police is underway regarding the death of Messiah Nantwi, which occurred on Saturday.
Governor Hochul stated, “While the investigation into this incident is ongoing, initial reports suggest troubling behavior leading to Mr. Nantwi’s death, and I am committed to holding all responsible individuals accountable. The people of New York offer our deepest sympathies to Mr. Nantwi’s family and loved ones.”
Authorities have not disclosed details of the incident except that the 22-year-old passed away at a hospital in Utica. However, the New York County Defender Services, who represented Nantwi as he awaited trial for the alleged killing of two individuals, claimed that he suffered a “violent senseless death at the hands of state corrections officers.” They described Nantwi as a bright young man grappling with significant mental health struggles stemming from a tumultuous upbringing.
According to Manhattan prosecutors, Nantwi was involved in the fatal shootings of Jaylen Duncan, 19, and Brandon Brunson, 36, in Harlem in April 2023. Nantwi had entered the state prison system in May and was serving a five-year sentence for criminal possession of a weapon. Governor Hochul emphasized that Nantwi’s death underscores the necessity for fundamental systemic reforms within the state’s prison system.
In response to the death of inmate Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional Facility in December, Hochul implemented measures such as the use of body-worn cameras, expanded whistleblower hotlines, and engaged external experts to review the prison system. Notably, six guards were charged with murder in Brooks’ case.
Amidst these developments, former inmates, families, supporters, and corrections staffers held rallies at the State Capitol in Albany in protest against the recent death at the prison. The community organizer Thomas Gant highlighted the systemic issues within the prison system and called for accountability and justice.
Furthermore, there have been ongoing protests by corrections officers against working conditions, prompting Governor Hochul to urge them to return to work to avoid disciplinary action. The New York Civil Liberties Union has also initiated legal action against the corrections department on behalf of Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York.
The suspension of calls and in-person visits at numerous state prisons due to the strikes has resulted in the limitation of the First Amendment rights of incarcerated individuals. A spokesperson for the department mentioned that they do not provide comments on ongoing legal matters. Karen Murtagh, the executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, expressed concerns, stating, “By impeding the communication between incarcerated individuals and their legal representatives, DOCCS is eroding the fundamental right to seek justice and receive due process.” She further added, “The limited information we have managed to gather from inmates and their families portrays appalling prison conditions that have been exacerbated by the ongoing strikes.”
