Given that the state has failed to take any serious legislative action since correction officers murdered Robert Brooks this past December and Messiah Nantwi in March, Senator Salazar today held a press conference alongside Robert Ricks (the father of Mr. Brooks) and advocates to renew her push to reform New York’s brutally abusive and flawed prison system before the 2025 legislative session ends in June.  

The priorities fall within three categories: expanding pathways to release, addressing the human rights abuses happening in prisons, and increasing oversight and accountability. 

“The murders of Mr. Brooks and Mr. Nantwi highlighted what we have known for decades: that New York’s prison system is violent, ineffective, and abusive. There's been a lack of accountability for unlivable conditions and abuse toward incarcerated people, just as there’s been a lack of commitment toward releasing people who have rehabilitated, served their time, and are ready to be productive members of their communities,” said Senator Salazar, Chair of Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction. “Lawmakers, DOCCS, and Governor Hochul responded to the murders of Mr. Brooks and Mr. Nantwi by pledging to take action to transform our state’s abusive prison system – the time to take action is now.” 

Father of Robert Brooks, Robert Ricks, said “Nearly six months ago, my son was brutally murdered by correction officers. I’m here today because the State of New York had an obligation to protect my son and failed. Our leaders have an obligation to ensure no one else faces the same unwarranted, inhumane abuse and violence that my son faced.  So I am once  again calling on lawmakers and the Governor of New York to live up to the promises they made, and finally reform the state’s violent and abusive prisons.” 

“Clearly New York’s prison system is in need of major reforms that will reduce the violence in our correctional facilities and restore public confidence by making the system more transparent,” said Assemblyman Erik M. Dilan, Chair of the Assembly Correction Committee. “We need to keep in mind that during the past six months two people were murdered while in state custody, and assaults and violence are an ongoing concern throughout New York’s prison system. Today I am co-chairing a public hearing that will provide us with the opportunity to gather testimony that will be used to vet legislation designed to improve that system.”       

Following the press conference, the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction and the Assembly Committee on Correction are holding a public hearing focused on “Safety of Persons in Custody, Transparency, and Accountability within State Correctional Facilities.” Initiated by the lack of action since the murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi, the committees will hear firsthand accounts from impacted loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, legal experts, advocates, and others.   

Support From Electeds, Advocates, and Organizations: 

"As the former Chair of the Assembly Committee on Correction, I value safety and transparency in our system and I am very pleased to see that these issues are being brought to light through today’s public hearing. In light of recent tragedies including the murder of Robert Brooks in custody these difficult conversations have become more urgent than ever. As legislators we need more oversight so that our correctional system operates justly and cares for our incarcerated individuals. Proper oversight is a necessity for our correctional system to function justly, but too often the Correctional Association of New York (CANY)-which is constitutionally mandated to ensure proper conditions in our facilities- has been faced with impediments while inspecting facilities. I am proud sponsor of A3781 which grants CANY  greater access to facilities. The correctional system should not be about punishment, but instead about rehabilitation. That is why I am the proud prime-sponsor of Fair and Timely Parole that will allow incarcerated individuals an opportunity to have a meaningful Parole hearing, where their rehabilitation will be considered,” said Assemblyman David Weprin. 

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said, "It has been five months since Robert Brooks' brutal murder was accidentally caught on camera. Had the body cameras worn by corrections officers not captured the incident in standby mode, we still might not know about the vicious beating he endured with his hands cuffed behind his back. This state legislature has yet to pass any legislation since Mr. Brooks' murder to increase oversight and protections for incarcerated people and ensure there is not another Robert Brooks in state custody. My bill with Senator Salazar would expand the State Commission of Correction and ensure its commissioners have the expertise and perspective necessary to conduct meaningful oversight and protect incarcerated people. There is still time to pass it this session and send a message that the lives of people incarcerated in New York matter." 

Ziyadah Amatulmatin, a member of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice said “Our incarcerated loved ones are being abused, mistreated, medically neglected, and murdered in prisons across New York. My brother Ramadan Mubarak Ibn Abdul-Mateen passed away at Wende Correctional Facility from lack of medical care and excessive force at the hands of correctional officers. My son, who is currently incarcerated, is also experiencing the same horrific conditions. He’s been starved, medically neglected, and physically abused. I’ve had to continuously advocate and fight for his safety. Families should not have to live in constant fear of losing their loved ones behind bars. We deserve better. I thank Senator Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Erik Dilan for holding today’s joint legislative hearing on the crisis unfolding in state prisons. Now, the legislature must take action. In the final stretch of the session, the Senate and Assembly must pass S.856-(Salazar) / A.2315-(Gallagher) to increase oversight and overhaul the State Commission of Correction (SCOC). This legislation will fix the SCOC by bringing greater accountability so that it meets its mandate with regard to prison oversight throughout the state. Lives are at stake, and the clock is running out. Our families and communities deserve better." 

“In light of the alarming rise of in-custody deaths, recent wildcat strike, and the persistent issues voiced in today’s hearing, the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) strongly supports Senator Salazar's efforts to reform New York's prison system through these crucial bills,” said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director of the Correctional Association of New York. “Enhancing oversight by passing the CANY Access Bill (S.651/A.3781) is a key step towards greater transparency and accountability. Having the ability to pursue unannounced inspections and regular access to critical data will bring CANY’s legal authority in line with commonly accepted best practices for oversight. We look forward the legislature acting quickly and passing these bills to bring real transparency and accountability to the state’s correctional facilities.” 

Stanley Bellamy, NYC Community Organizer with the RAPP Campaign said “For those of us who witnessed racist prison guards brutalizing Black people for decades, the murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi were horrifying, but sadly not surprising. The surest way to protect incarcerated people from staff violence is to create fair pathways to release while simultaneously transforming the racist culture of brutality. Lawmakers must enact Fair & Timely Parole, Elder Parole, Rights Behind Bars, sentencing reforms like Second Look Act, and other policies that uphold basic human rights and help to improve safety for all before this legislative session ends.” 

“Robert Brooks’ murder was not an isolated incident,” said Thomas Gant, Community Organizer at Center for Community Alternatives. “Each additional year someone spends in a New York state prison is another year they are likely to face violence and torture. But we are not powerless. There is a path forward. If we want safety—inside and out—we must change that culture from one of perpetual punishment to one of change and transformation. The Second Look Act would give judges the ability to re-evaluate long sentences after ten years, to recognize transformation and growth. The Earned Time Act would restore the opportunity for people to earn time off their sentences through education, work, and growth. When people have real hope, prison culture changes. Violence goes down. Safety goes up—for everyone. Our Legislature must pass the Earned Time Act and the Second Look Act. Let’s stop the cycle of brutality and begin a cycle of healing. Let Robert Brooks’ and Messiah Nantwi’s deaths not be in vain.”