By Aria BrentAFRO Employees Writerabrent@afro.com
On Jan. 2 New York Lawyer Common Letitia James introduced that her workplace is recusing itself from the investigation into the beating loss of life of Robert L. Brooks. James appointed Onondaga District Lawyer William J. Fitzpatrick.
Brooks was overwhelmed whereas handcuffed on Dec. 9 and died within the early morning hours of Dec. 10. The brutal assault was recorded, although officers didn’t activate their physique cameras to doc the assault. In consequence, the beating was recorded in “standby mode” with no sound. James launched the tapes in late December, sparking outrage from the general public and jail reform advocates.
Now, James has appointed one other prosecutor to deal with the case.
“Earlier immediately, after a lot consideration, analysis and assessment, my workplace determined to recuse itself from the investigation of the correction officers concerned within the occasions previous the loss of life of Mr. Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County,” stated James. “We filed papers in Onondaga County Supreme Court docket beneath County Legislation Part 701 to nominate Onondaga County District Lawyer William J. Fitzpatrick as a particular prosecutor on this matter.”
Within the video announcement shared, James stated the change occurred as a safety measure towards inner conflicts and to guarantee the integrity of the investigation is protected.
“This resolution just isn’t one which was made calmly, however we imagine that is the very best plan of action to guard the integrity of the investigation, and to make sure accountability and justice for Mr. Brooks. As a part of our Workplace of Particular Investigation circumstances, we do inner conflicts checks. After acquiring video and figuring out the officers concerned within the incident, we carried out this normal verify,” she stated. “4 of the correction officers beneath investigation within the Robert Brooks matter are presently defendants in different issues and are being represented by legal professionals within the Workplace of the Lawyer Common.”
Days earlier than this announcement, on Dec. 30, New York Governor Kathy Hochul visited Marcy Correctional Facility to announce rapid corrective actions following the incident that led to the loss of life of Brooks on Dec. 10.
In a information replace shared by the Governor’s workplace, it was famous that she demanded solutions from the power’s interim management following the brutal homicide of Brooks. Throughout her go to, Hochul additionally met with a number of inmates on the facility who served as liaisons for the bigger incarcerated inhabitants– listening to from them immediately about their experiences.
Following her go to she introduced modifications to be applied. Hochul has ordered an instantaneous and full investigation into the incident that resulted within the loss of life of Brooks, together with the termination of the 13 officers and one nurse who have been concerned within the assault.
“As I stood within the room the place Robert Brooks was killed, I used to be as soon as once more heartbroken by this pointless lack of life and additional sickened to consider the actions of wicked people with no regard for human life,” Hochul stated in a press release. “Mr. Brooks and his household didn’t deserve this. I instructed each Marcy management and the incarcerated people that I met with that each single particular person who enters a DOCCS facility deserves to be protected, whether or not they’re employed there or serving their time.”
“The system failed Mr. Brooks and I cannot be glad till there was important tradition change. In the present day I’m implementing numerous new insurance policies at Marcy and inside DOCCS, and I stay up for persevering with to listen to concepts from consultants, elected officers, and advocates as we proceed this work.”
The rapid modifications that she applied for the safety and nicely being of each inmates and staff of the Division of Corrections and Neighborhood Supervision (DOCCS) embody:
Directing DOCCS Commissioner Martuscello to nominate Shawangunk Correctional Facility superintendent, Bennie Thorpe as the brand new everlasting superintendent of Marcy Correctional Facility.
Expediting $400 million to put in mounted cameras and distribute body-worn cameras in all DOCCS amenities. That is an initiative Hochul has already dedicated lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to for the funding of cameras throughout the system — the identical physique cameras that have been essential in capturing the beating of Brooks.
Including DOCCS employees to the Workplace of Particular Investigations to guarantee that complaints are dealt with shortly and penalties are given in a well timed method.
Directing DOCCS to have interaction an out of doors agency to conduct a assessment of the tradition, patterns and practices, in each Marcy and all throughout the correctional system.
Increasing the DOCCS whistleblower hotline to permit extra nameless suggestions from staff, contractors and inmates.
Creating a brand new devoted unit on The Way forward for Prisons in New York State inside the Council of Neighborhood Justice. The vary of labor for the brand new unit would come with a technique for offering a more healthy safer atmosphere for workers and inmates within the DOCCS system and the coaching {and professional} improvement of corrections.
As of Jan. 8, no arrests had been made.
