Three former correction officers are facing murder charges in the death of Robert Brooks — but one didn’t lay a hand on him. Prosecutors say that still doesn’t matter, because under a 2023 prison policy, officers had a duty to stop their colleagues from using excessive force, according to the Times Union.
The beatings, captured on body cam footage, left Brooks with fatal injuries. Six other officers have already pleaded guilty. But defense attorneys argue the “duty to intervene” isn’t state law — and say using it as a criminal charge sets a dangerous precedent.
The case spotlights gaps in oversight, failures in body camera use, and calls for legislation that would make intervention mandatory for correction and police officers alike.
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