Body-worn camera footage from the Marcy Correctional Facility depicts correctional officers fatally beating a handcuffed inmate, Robert Brooks, resulting in an investigation by the New York attorney general. The video shows officers punching and kicking Brooks, even shoving an object into his mouth and striking him with a shoe. While four officers’ body cameras recorded the visual aspects of the incident, they failed to capture audio. Governor Hochul and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision condemned the actions, vowing institutional change to prevent future occurrences.
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Allegations of sexual abuse by correctional staff in prisons across the US have surged in recent years, with guards allegedly using work tasks to lure female inmates to isolated areas. Despite hundreds of reports, those accused often face minimal or no reprisal. Attorney Michael Woelfel, who has helped settle 127 abuse cases in West Virginia, claims cries for justice often fall on deaf ears due to societal attitudes towards female criminals. Laws vary drastically between states, and in some places accused parties can’t be criminally charged if they’ve been compelled to speak about their actions. Furthermore, guards accused of misconduct can often retire, resign, or move facilities before investigations are completed.
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I am utterly disgusted by the recent news of an officer who made a man lick urine off a jail floor, pleading guilty to his heinous actions. The fact that this officer, who is supposed to uphold justice and protect those he is responsible for, would stoop to such a degrading and dehumanizing act is beyond comprehension.
It is appalling to me that forcing someone to suck pee off a dirty floor, after denying them access to a restroom, is only considered a misdemeanor. The power dynamics at play in this situation are disturbing, with the officer abusing his position of authority to inflict cruel and unusual punishment on another human being.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker