"Captain America." That's the nickname inmates at Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York gave to a prison guard who they say was one of many who allegedly beat them in the days after two men escaped from the prison.

It's the latest detail to emerge in an ongoing investigation by The New York Times into the conduct of guards at state prisons.

The guard, identified as Chad Stickney, has a large American flag tattooed on his left arm which earned him the nickname. According to The Times, in the days after David Sweat and Richard Matt escaped from the facility, Stickney allegedly participated in the harsh treatment of inmates. 

Several inmates said they were taken to areas of the prison with no cameras and punched and slammed against the wall. One inmate said Stickney tied a plastic bag around his neck, choking him until he passed out. The guards were apparently seeking information about the escape of Sweat and Matt.

The Times also notes that investigations into incidents like these move at a slow pace with little results.

"It's very very difficult to fire or discipline correction officers," said Times reporter Michael Schwirtz. "Part of this has to do with the strength of the union, but I think part of it has to do with the fact that there has been very little scrutiny of the prison system for many many years so very little pressure to discipline individuals who are accused of wrongdoing."

Michael Schwirtz spoke with WNYC's Soterios Johnson.