Inmate Beaten To Death By Prison Guards In New York

An inmate was killed after allegedly being beaten by guards at a New York State prison. While corrections officers were striking over concerns of safety, an inmate died after being beaten by guards.

22-Year-Old Inmate Killed By Guards

According to the New York Times, a 22-year-old inmate was allegedly beaten to death by corrections officers at the Mid-State Correctional Facility, located at 9005 Old River Road, in Marcy. The incident happened on Saturday, March 1, 2025, the same day striking guards were required to return to work. Mid-State is located across the street from the Marcy Correctional Facility, which is where prison guards beat a handcuffed man to death. Robert Brooks was killed after being violently and brutally assaulted by corrections officers in December 2024. Ten correction officers were indicted in his death. Jerome Wright, Co-Director of the HALT Solitary Campaign, released a statement according to CBS 6,

“How many more incarcerated people must be killed or left to die before our state’s elected leaders recognize that the real problem lies with the racist system of incarceration and the prison guards, who for generations have relied on the legacy of slavery for their livelihoods? Even after some important reforms, mass incarceration remains a jobs program for upstate communities at the expense of the liberty and lives of Black, brown, and poor New Yorkers. Our hearts go out to all who loved this young individual and must be devastated right now. This lynching cannot go unanswered.”

New York State prison guards were illegally striking for two weeks, but any officers who did not return to work as of Saturday would be fired. Officers say the working conditions are unsafe and want the HALT Act repealed. However, prison rights groups and community activists say that the unchecked use of solitary confinement can be abused by guards and be detrimental to prisoners' mental health and well-being.

READ MORE: Prisoner Dies As Illegal Strike Guard Continues In New York

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In 2023, which is the most recent data, there were 1,671 assaults on staff in prisons around New York State. There was a 13 percent increase in violence against staff members from 2022 to 2023. As far as assaults on incarcerated individuals, there were 2,112 in 2023, an increase of 42 percent from 2022, when there were 1,488 incarcerated individuals assaulted. Staff used 2,908 weapons in 2023, up 16 percent from 2022, when staff used 2,511 weapons. In 2024, prisoners filed 1,443 grievances against prison staff.