Prison Inmate Assault Attorneys

Inmate Assault

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, more than 50,000 individuals are housed in the state's jails. Between 2008 and 2009, that number increased by 4,253. The individuals housed in Pennsylvania correctional facilities are some of the most dangerous criminals in our society today. They are often mentally disturbed, violent, and have very little to lose. This is especially true of those inmates who are serving extended or life sentences behind bars with little hope for parole. With so many inmates in such close proximity to those charged with their supervision, it is no surprise that inmate assaults on prison staff are a common occurrence.

The job of prison guards and correctional officers is to supervise, care for, and secure the inmates in their prison. This job is made more difficult by constant jail overcrowding. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania jails operate at 117% of capacity. Large prisons, such as Graterford, Camp Hill, Somerset, and Rockview operate at anywhere from 122% to 137% capacity. Overcrowding such as this makes a prison official's job much harder than it has to be. As the number of inmates continues to increase, while the number of available cells and beds remains the same, a guard's job becomes increasingly more complicated. Inmate fights and collusion amongst inmates who might plot to harm other groups of inmates or prison staff all increase as the prison population increases.

Also making a prison guard's job much more difficult is the attitude and mentality of the average inmate. Very often, they are bent on little more then creating unsafe situations and turning order into chaos. Many inmates are masters at inflicting damage and pain on others and are constantly looking for opportunities under which they may gain the upper hand over corrections officers. Inmates attacking prison guards, or groups of inmates plotting organized ambushes on unsuspecting guards is not uncommon. The inmates can use brute force to achieve their goals, or they can craft dangerous weapons often called 'shanks' from everyday items in their possession. Some common jailhouse weapons are crafted from items like:

• toothbrushes
• spoons and other flatware
• broom stick handles
• socks with heavy items in them (like soap, dominoes)
• pens or pencils sharpened to a razor point
• wood from walls shaved to points
• mattress wires
• hot liquids

With so many weapons at their disposal and an entire culture based on confrontation, it is no wonder that prison officials have some of the most dangerous jobs in America. If you are a prison guard and have suffered injuries from an inmate attack, it is important that you contact an attorney to help defend your rights. Suffering attacks and injuries should not be in anyone's job description, and if it is found that the prison has put their employees into preventable and unneeded dangerous situations, the prison can be held liable for your injuries. It is especially important that all prison guard injuries be looked at by outside investigators to make certain that other prison employees are not subject to the same dangerous situations and in turn injured as well.

If you have suffered injuries due to an inmate attack, contact our experienced Pennsylvania prison guard attorneys today for a free consultation of your case. We can help protect your rights under the law.

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