The family of Robert Brooks, an inmate who died after being beaten by correction officers while in custody at Marcy Correctional Facility, has reached a settlement agreement with New York state in its civil rights lawsuit.
The exact amount of the settlement was not disclosed, though the Brooks family has described it as "historic."
The family is scheduled to discuss the settlement during a Sept. 21 news conference in Rochester.
Rochester briefing expected to provide more details
Few details about the settlement have been made public.
The family's Sept. 21 news conference in Rochester is expected to provide additional information about the agreement and what it means for Brooks' relatives following the legal proceedings stemming from his death.
State officials acknowledged the settlement Friday in
separate statements.
What happened to Robert Brooks?
Brooks was transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility on Dec. 9, 2024, according to court records cited in the lawsuit.
While in custody, Brooks was beaten by correction officers while his hands were cuffed behind his back. He died from his injuries the following day.
An autopsy conducted by the Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office later ruled Brooks' death a homicide.
Several correction officers faced criminal charges in connection with the incident. Former correction officer David Kingsley was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter and later sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 19, 2025.
The Brooks family filed a lawsuit against New York state in January 2025, naming multiple defendants and alleging public defamation, humiliation and other claims connected to Brooks' death.
Hochul: 'Robert Brooks should be alive today'
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement following news of the settlement.
"No family should ever have to endure what the family of Robert Brooks has been through. The senseless killing of Mr. Brooks by those charged with protecting him horrified us all. While I am grateful for law enforcement and the District Attorney's efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable, there is nothing that can erase the pain the Brooks family has endured. It is my hope that this agreement will provide them with some measure of relief in the aftermath of his loss.
"Robert Brooks should be alive today. Every individual who enters a DOCCS facility deserves to be safe, and I am committed to continuing to do everything in my power to ensure our correctional facilities are fully reformed and safe for all.
"I want to send a message loud and clear: We have zero tolerance for anyone who violates their oath by committing an act of violence or putting the safety of others at risk."
DOCCS calls death a 'dark and painful chapter'
Officials with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision also issued a statement on the settlement.
The agency said the events surrounding Brooks' death represented a "dark and painful chapter in the history of our Department."
"Those responsible have been criminally prosecuted, and DOCCS remains committed to learning from what happened and taking meaningful steps to ensure that it is never repeated," the agency said.
Contributing: USA Today Network and Utica Observer Dispatch reporter Casey Pritchard
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Robert Brooks family to discuss settlement at Rochester news conference
