Introduced by Dionis Mejia, 16A2079

Elmira correctional facility

P.O Box 500

Elmira, New York 14902 - 0500

March 4, 2025

A petition on behalf of the New York State prison population, in relation to the early release of incarcerated individuals pursuant to the "Earned Time Act" proposed by The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly.

DISMANTLING MASS INCARCERATION:

THROUGH THE EYES OF ROBERT BROOKS.

Many people are aware that Robert Brooks was murdered by a gang of prison staff members in New York State. The gruesome act was captured on camera and the officers involved have been criminally charged.

Prison guards are not usually held accountable so this is extremely rare. In fact, correctional officers have historically gotten away with murdering prisoners. The abuse that prisoners suffer at the hands of prison guards is usually swept under the carpet.

Because prisoners have no voice. However, this is no longer the case, because Robert Brooks has spoken.

Despite what society may believe, the truth is that correctional officers are even more violent than their criminal counterparts. Not even the most vicious "gangsters" in New York State prison can rival the violent inclination of correctional officers. Although this claim may seem unfathomable, I speak from experience. As I have personally been assaulted by prison guards myself.

Ultimately, In order to see mass

incarceration for the evil system that it is, 1 ask that it be viewed through the eyes of Robert Brooks. Only then would the world understand the oppressive policies, Which over 30,000 prisoners in New York State are subjected to.

Table of Contents

I.INTRODUCTION

II. THE HISTORY OF MASS INCARCERATION IN NEW YORK STATE.

III. WHO IS ROBERT BROOKS?

IV. THE OPPRESSIVE POWER STRUCTURE

V. KATHY HOCHUL STANDS ON JUSTICE VI. CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PRISON CONDITIONS VII. CONCLUSION VIII. RELIEF SOUGHT

INTRODUCTION

Local news sources would have you believe that correctional officers are currently protesting because of "dangerous and deteriorating working conditions." News staff reporters such as Aaron Besecker of the Buffalo news is one of the sources of this terrible Journalism. The truth is that prison staff members are illegally and unlawfully protesting to preserve the oppresive power structure of mass incarceration. In this petition we will first briefly explore the history of mass incarceration in New York State. Second, we will elaborate on how Robert Brooks death, and Kathy Hochuls unwavering stance against injustice, relates to the illegal and unlawful protest initiated by prison staff.

Lastly, we will explore how this unlawful protest is negatively effecting prisoners.

This petition is not based on propaganda or expedient journalism. In fact, this petition is predicated on personal experience. Mass incarceration is not rehabilitation it is dehumanization. The oppressive power structure of mass incarceration, is irreconcilable with our modern societies moral standards. This petition is not claiming that criminals should not be penalized. Instead, the argument is that incarceration should be a rehabilitating process not a dehumanizing process.

Therefore, when I refer to mass incarceration, I am referring to the oppressive power structure, which is a direct threat, to the advancement of justice and equality in our nation.

This petition is the voice of many oppressed prisoners and their families. Our hopes are that legislators will be convinced of the need to dismantle mass incarceration.

Furthermore, Our goals are to emphasize the urgency of enacting "The Earned Time Act." Which is a proposed bill, that will allow rehabilatated prisoners in New York State to go home after serving half of their prison sentence. Ultimately, The Earned Time Act, will signify the end of mass incarceration in New York State. Meaning that truly rehabilitated incarcerated individuals will no longer be subjugated to the oppressive and unfair policies of power abusers.

THE HISTORY OF MASS INCARCERATION

IN NEW YORK STATE

Mass incarceration is best understood when it is reviewed from a historical perspective.

So, we should begin by acknowledging that the expansion of prisons in New York State was a result of the Rockefeller Drug laws enacted in 1973. Those laws mostly targeted minorities in poor communities and by 1999 the number of people in NYS prison more than doubled, reaching a high of over 72,000. When the severe and harsh Rockefella laws were finally repealed in 2009, incarceration rates began to decline.

Accordingly, since 2011, the state has eliminated more than 20,000 prison beds and closed a total of 24 correctional facilities. This trend continues under Governor Kathy Hochul.

Many scholars and civil rights lawyers agree that mass incarceration is a racialized system that needs to be dismantled. Existing research on New York State prisons presents convincing evidence that the incarceration rate in 2023, was 8.5 times higher for Black Americans than White Americans. Along the same lines, Michelle Alexander has stated that "As many as 80 percent of young African American men now have criminal records." These statistics are not coincidental. Mass incarceration is an oppressive power structure that is diametrically opposed to justice and equality.

Who is Robert Brooks?

I

In December of 2024, a young man named Robert Brooks was killed by a group of correctional officers in Marcy correctional facility. The world may want to

believe that things like this don’t usually happen, but the unfortunate truth is that prison guards have been getting away with murdering prisoners in New York State for decades. The only difference this time is that the group of prison guards who killed Robert Brooks have been indicted and charged with murder. Robert Brooks is a messiah and he died for a cause that is greater than society can imagine.

THE OPPRESSIVE POWER STRUCTURE

No prisoner is exempt from the cruel policies of mass incarceration. I imagine that my experience qualifies me to speak on such matters. I've been wrongfully in prison for the last 10 years and I personally know what it feels like to be at the mercy of oppressive prison customs. For instance, on November 6, 2023, while I was asleep at sing sing correctional facility, several prison guards violently rushed inside of my assigned prison cell and beat me until I was unconscious. When I finally regained consciousness, my hands were cuffed behind my back and my head was being banged against the floor. Despite the serious injuries that I sustained, prison staff refused to provide me with medical care. I was instead shipped to solitary confinement. To add insult to injury, the officers who assaulted me fabricated a misbehavior report and charged me with assault on staff. Although there were many inconsistencies in their fabricated stories , I was still found guilty at an unfair disciplinary proceeding. Besides my physical and mental injuries, I suffered serious consequences. First, I was expelled from college. Second, additional time was added to my prison sentence. Last but not least , I suffered from the defamation of character. As a result , all of the law firms that were advocating for my wrongful conviction to be overturned ,disassociated themselves with me. Evidently, these arbitrary and capricious prison policies directly hindered my freedom. The point is that the future and the safety of prisoners should not be placed at the discretion of power abusers. My personal experience sadly illustrate that the oppression suffered by Robert Brooks is not unique. Prisoners are being dehumanized by mass incarceration on the daily basis.

KATHY HOCHUL STANDS ON JUSTICE

Thanks to governor Kathy Hochul, all of the officers who assaulted and killed Robert Brooks (on camera) have been indicted and are facing murder charges. Kathy Hochuls unwavering stance against mass incarceration has enraged Correctional officers all throughout New York State.

Which has resulted in an unlawful and illegal protest to repeal laws which were enacted to improve the conditions of prisoners. With that being said, there are several questions we should be asking ourselves, First, why would correctional officers want to repeal laws that improve the conditions of prisoners? Second, why would prison staff members choose to go on strike only a few weeks after the officers who killed Robert Brooks were indicted? Third, why are prison guards against wearing body cameras?

Common sence dictates that correctional officers are rebelling because they realize that the oppressive power structure which they have been depended on for over 100 years is now crumbling. The truth is that body cameras only serve to protect prisoners from abusive correctional officers.

They in no way make the work environment dangerous or unsafe. It must be noted, that the same body cameras which prison guards are against wearing, are the same body cameras that captured the gang assault which led to the unfortunate demise of Robert Brooks. To put it succinctly, Without the body cameras, the world may have never known how Robert Brooks died.

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PRISON CONDITIONS

Regardless, of flawed statistics and news media propaganda prisoners are the true victims of below standard living conditions.The current state of emergency in NYS correctional facilities only further supports this claim. As I desperately write this petition on behalf of the prison population, I am locked down at Elmira correctional facility. Where prison staff members are unlawfully abondanding their duty of "care, custody and control" at the expence of the health and safety of incarcerated individuals. And we are being deprived of the basic human needs.

First, many incarcerated individuals are sick and are not being provided medical attention. Second, prisoners are not being afforded any showers or sanitary living conditions. Third, prisoners are not being allowed to communicate with family members. Fourth, incarcerated individuals have been locked in prison cells for 24 hours a day without fresh air or exercise.

Overall, the cause of our pain and our suffering is a direct result of the illegal protest by prison staff members. Im compelled to state that l aspire to be a lawyer someday, and although I have yet to be admitted to the bar association, my knowledge in law is fortunatly extensive enough to know that the constitutional rights of prisoners are being violated.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Robert Brooks death supports the thesis that mass incarceration is diametrically opposed to justice and equality. Sadly, before I could finish drafting this petition another young man was allegedly killed by prison staff at mid state correctional facility. We need to take immediate action. Prisoners are not being rehabilitated, they are being dehumanized, humiliated and murdered. With that being said this petition is in support of "The Earned Time Act" which is instrumental to the dismantling of mass incarceration in New York State. Ultimately, there has never been a greater opportunity to abolish the oppressive power structure. Robert Brooks was not a messenger. He was the message.

RELIEF SOUGHT

1. We request that the legislators of New York State respectfully enact the "Earned Time Act" into legislation.

2. We respectfully request any other relief which is deemed just and proper.