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How Nepotism in New York Prisons Cost Prisoners Their Lives
by Anthony Accurso
The Martuscello family, a practical dynasty within New York’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), manipulated the system to take power and avoid accountability while overseeing a system that perpetuated physical and sexual abuse of prisoners.
The killing of Robert Brooks occurred on …
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More from this issue:
- In the Killing Chamber, by Doran Larson
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Angola Prison Re-Opens Area Once Called “The Dungeon” to Hold Immigrants
- Florida Appeals Court Finds Rationale for “Sexual Predator” Label on Former Prisoner’s Drivers License, by Chuck Sharman
- Date of Firing Squad Execution Vacated for Utah Prisoner with Dementia, by Chuck Sharman
- Inspectors Urge New Jersey to Demolish Old, “Inhumane” Prison
- How Nepotism in New York Prisons Cost Prisoners Their Lives, by Anthony Accurso
- Ousted BOP Director Appointed Receiver for CDCR Mental Health Care, by Chuck Sharman
- Jail Roster Goes Online for Ohio’s Second-Largest County, by Chuck Sharman
- Ninth Circuit Springs California Prisoners from “Catch-22” Reading of PLRA, by Chuck Sharman
- Nevada Court of Appeals Revives Detainee’s Failure-to-Protect Claim Against CoreCivic, by Douglas Ankney
- Second Circuit Revives Former New York Prisoner’s Claim for Ignored Prostate Cancer, by Chuck Sharman
- Jail-Based IGNITE Program Found to Reduce Recidivism, by Anthony Accurso
- Seventh Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claims Related to Missing 600 Meals in a Year, by Douglas Ankney
More from Anthony Accurso:
- Virginia Prisoners Stuck Waiting for Education Programs, Feb. 1, 2026
- $939,000 for Nevada Prisoner Left in Wheelchair by Delayed Back Pain Treatment, Jan. 1, 2026
- Ninth Circuit Affirms Exclusion of Plea Agreement’s Factual Basis, Holding Unaccepted “Type A” Plea Agreement Unenforceable to Trigger Waiver of Rule 410 Protections, Dec. 15, 2025
- America’s Deadliest Jails: Tarrant County Edition, Nov. 1, 2025
- Seventh Circuit Dismisses Jail Detainee Suicide Case for Lack of Showing Deliberate Indifference, Nov. 1, 2025
- Protecting Your Digital Privacy, Oct. 15, 2025
- Idaho Supreme Court Announces Warrantless Search of Civilly Committed Individual Violates Fourth Amendment, Oct. 15, 2025
- Michigan Supreme Court Announces Guidance on Standards for Search Warrants of Cellphones to Satisfy Particularity Requirement of Fourth Amendment That “Reasonably Direct” Search to Uncovering Evidence of Criminal Activity Identified in Warrant, Oct. 15, 2025
- Sixth Circuit: Erlinger Error Requires Resentencing Where Government Cannot Prove Beyond Reasonable Doubt That Jury Would Find Prior Offenses Committed on Different “Occasions”, Oct. 15, 2025
- How Nepotism in New York Prisons Cost Prisoners Their Lives, Oct. 1, 2025
More from these topics:
- Idaho Struggles to Respond to Devasting Report of Widespread Prisoner Sex Abuse, April 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Prison Rape Elimination Act, State Legislation, Public Records Act.
- Houston Jail Renews $38 Million Contract to Outsource Detainees to Private Lockups, April 1, 2026. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Failure to Treat, Overcrowding, Staffing, Medical Neglect/Malpractice.
- Death of Washington Jail Standards Bill Risks Repeat of $2.5 Million Settlement That Closed One County’s Jail, April 1, 2026. Staffing, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Suicides, Staff Training, State Legislation.
- Hawai’i Settles Prison Mental Healthcare Class-Action With $100,000 in Attorney’s Fees and Expert Inspection That Produces Damning Report, April 1, 2026. Staffing, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Confinement in Segregated Housing, Inadequate Health Care Facilities.
- Watchdog Report Finds More than 1,500 Waiting for Specialty Care at Connecticut Prisons, April 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Failure to Treat, Staffing, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Inadequate Health Care Facilities.
- Mississippi DOC Retains Law Firm to Monitor VitalCore Contract, April 1, 2026. Contractor Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Dental Care, Private Contractors, Staffing.
- At This Prison, Staffing Fluctuations Land Hardest on Lifers, April 1, 2026. Staffing, Lockdowns, Life without Parole (LWOP), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Staff Training.
- New York City Mayor Appoints Ex-Rikers Prisoner as Corrections Commissioner, March 1, 2026. Prison Reform, Staffing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Guard Unions, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Report Finds Persistent Overcrowding Drives Cascade of Problems at Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail, March 1, 2026. Overcrowding, Staffing, Pretrial Detention and Detainees, Bail/Pretrial Release, Indictment/Information.
- Eighth Circuit Revives Case Against Guards Who Failed to Intervene As Chaplain Sexually Assaulted Arkansas Prisoner, March 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Prison Rape Elimination Act, Qualified Immunity, Failure to Train/Supervise.

