An African-American inmate has died after being brutally beaten by guards at a prison near New York. The images of the violence, deemed “shocking”, were broadcast. A case which raises many questions about the abuses of the prison system…
America is once again rocked by a suspicious death in a prison. “Shocking” videos, according to authorities, show a 43-year-old African-American inmate violently beaten by corrections officers in a facility in upstate New York. The man, who was serving a 12-year sentence for violence, died shortly afterwards from his injuries. A case which revives the debate on violence and racism within the American prison system.
Unbearable images of regular beatings
The videos from the guards' body cameras, although silent, are of rare violence. We see the inmate, Robert Brooks, with a bloody face, beaten while he seems to be subdued on an infirmary bed. Pinned to the ground by six men, he was held firmly by the neck several times. Then, although handcuffed and visibly injured, an agent grabbed him again by the collar to pin him against a wall. “Disturbing” images according to the Attorney General of the State of New York.
The preliminary autopsy concluded that “asphyxia” was caused by “compression to the neck”. But many wonder what could have preceded this outburst of violence, the images not making it possible to understand whether there was an initial incident. The authorities have communicated little about the exact circumstances and the course of the events which occurred on the evening of December 9.
Serial dismissals and ongoing investigation
Faced with the shock caused by these images, the governor of New York quickly reacted by announcing the dismissal of 14 prison employees involved. “We have no tolerance for those who cross the line, break the law and engage in unnecessary violence,” she said. The prosecutor, for her part, justified the broadcast of the videos in the name of “transparency”, judging their viewing “devastating” for loved ones.
An investigation is underway to shed light on this death. But for many, this affair once again illustrates the excesses of a prison system plagued by violence and racism. An observation already highlighted by the death of George Floyd in 2020, asphyxiated during a police check. His death sparked a widespread protest movement against police brutality against the African-American community.
A prison system in crisis
Overcrowding, deplorable detention conditions, violence from guards… American prisons have been singled out for years. A damning report from the Department of Justice in 2019 singled out Alabama for the “culture of violence” reigning in its detention centers. In California, a class action was launched in 2022 against the state by 55,000 inmates to denounce the systematic mistreatment inflicted.
Many voices are being raised to demand a vast reform of a system that is running out of steam. Among the recommended measures: better training for guards, more external controls, easier access to care, alternative sentences… So many projects to try to stem this spiral of prison violence. But for now, little concrete progress has been made.
The shadow of racism looms
Beyond the dysfunctions of the system, the question of racism is also raised. Numerous studies show that African-Americans are over-represented in the prison population and more exposed to violence from guards. An overwhelming observation which questions the persistence of prejudice and discrimination.
For associations defending prisoners' rights, it is urgent to tackle the “systemic” racism which plagues American prisons. A long-term fight, made more necessary than ever by this new tragedy. Because behind this death, it is the question of equal treatment of citizens in the face of justice that is being raised. A major challenge for an American society still deeply marked by racial divides.
A case that causes excitement
As is often the case in this type of business, emotion and anger dominate. On social networks, many Internet users expressed their indignation at these “unbearable” images. Rallies were organized in front of the prison to demand truth and justice. The detainee's family said they were “devastated” and intend to fight for answers.
One more tragic affair which serves as a reminder of the urgency of an in-depth reform of the American prison system. Because behind prison walls, far from view, respect for the most fundamental human rights is also at stake. A crucial fight for a society which wants to be exemplary in terms of freedoms but is still struggling to turn the page on its heavy past of discrimination.
