A 2022 report from the Corrections Association of New York is providing more insight on the conditions at Marcy Correctional Facility.

Graphic body camera footage showed the violent beating of inmate Robert Brooks last month.

According to that report, watchdog group Correctional Association of New York made a visit to Marcy in October of 2022, after what authors called “an unusually large volume” of letters from inmates.
Twenty-five inmates wrote letters between February and September of that year, they said.
Inmates reported “rampant abuse by staff”, including physical assaults.

Several inmates interviewed told monitors, that the night before the visit, staff had walked through the housing units, threatening physical harm in retaliation for speaking with CANY.
Inmates detailed experiencing or witnessing a range of abusive behaviors by staff, including physical assaults in locations without cameras – including between the gates, in vans, and in showers.

Another reported when he arrived – the CO told him, “This is a ‘hands-on facility.’ We’re going to put hands on you if we don’t like what you’re doing.”

The report also details inmates’ limited access to food, and allegations of unfair discipline procedures, and abuse of solitary confinement.

The Department of Corrections responded to the allegations detailed in the report at the time, in a multipage response.

It said in part:

“The Department is committed to holding staff to the highest standards of public service. The Department takes pride in the degree of fairness, professionalism, integrity, and transparency expected of our staff in providing excellent service. As such, all allegations of an employee not meeting those standards are investigated thoroughly and are taken very seriously. The Department has several safeguards in place to prevent and report misconduct. “

Then they released this statement:

“Based on what we all witnessed on the video showing the assault on Mr. Brooks, there was not enough done to implement the recommendations included in the report. That being said, one recommendation that we’ve made repeatedly was partially implemented and critical in uncovering the incident, which was to expedite the use of body-worn cameras and the installation of stationary cameras systemwide.”

You can read the full report below.