Push for NYS prison reform
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---The father of Robert Brooks, the man who died after being beaten by Marcy Corrections officers, was at the New York State Capitol. He met with New York lawmakers advocating for change within the New York State Prison System.
"Having experienced the trauma, the atrocity of seeing my son in a body bag and then seeing him beaten to death is sad, it’s painful, and it’s hurtful, and it’s also enraging, so for me at this juncture it’s about change," said Robert Ricks, the father of Robert Brooks.
Ricks is turning his anger into advocacy.
"Anything that I can do as a father, as a community member, as a man to assist them in coming home better than they were when they were incarcerated and not in a body bag like my son did, that’s the charge," explained Ricks.
Senator Julia Salazar re-introduced three bills to bring more transparency to the prison system. She and other 61 other lawmakers have called for Marcy Correctional to close. Ricks agreed.
"I believe the prison should close because it sends a message. The message is that your primary source of income in your community can be eliminated if these types of things happen in the prison in your community. However, my issue with that is the guards from Marcy is just going to go to another prison."
Brooks’ death was ruled a homicide by the Onondaga County medical examiner. Governor Hochul issued a statement last week saying, “The process must quickly move forward with criminal charges being filed and arrests being made."
"I know now that there is a process," said Ricks. "And if you don’t heed the process, you stand the chance of the case being thrown out or it being prolonged."
Standing beside Ricks was former New York Attorney General Eric Scheniderman, who said he is supporting and advising Ricks free of charge.
When asked by a reporter if he will have an increasing presence in Albany, Schneiderman responded by saying, "I’ve been doing well, laying low and working on projects, but when I connected with Robert, I decided he was such an inspiration that it was worth me leaving the upper eastside for the frozen reaches of Albany once again."
Scheneiderman said he will stand with Ricks as he testifies during Thursday’s legislative budget hearing on public protection.