Assaults and Turnovers high in Texas Prison System

Assaults on Texas prison guards and staffers have doubled in the last five years while turnover among prison employees is at a record level, according to a newspaper report.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported that more than 36 staff members have been assaulted this year by inmates with weapons, up from 18 in all of 2003, according to an analysis by The Dallas Morning News.

The increase reflects growing violence among inmates. The department recorded more than 900 cases of inmates attacking inmates so far this year, up more than 30 percent from 2002.

Meanwhile, guards have been leaving their jobs sooner, with one in four employees quitting the agency last year. The department's workforce was down more than 3,900 employees at the end of August.

Criminal justice experts and department officials said the violence can be attributed to factors including the staff shortages, tougher criminals and prison overcrowding. The department struggles to recruit officers because of low pay.