11 placed on leave after New York prison inmate’s death, corrections department says

An investigation into the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi, 22, at Mid-State Correctional Facility is being conducted by New York State Police, as confirmed on Monday, March 3, by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Eleven staff members at the prison have been placed on administrative leave amid allegations that Nantwi was brutally beaten by corrections officers, with nine prisoners corroborating this claim.

The Legal Aid Society called for transparency in the investigation, highlighting the toxic culture of violence within New York’s prisons following Nantwi’s death.

Nantwi’s death occurs during a strike by prison guards, raising ongoing concerns about safety and working conditions, impacting 32 out of 42 state prisons.