I have a few friends who have worked in and around prisons over the past many years. Over quiet drinks, I have listened to them lay out their experiences, absorbing their shocking accounts of assaults, violence, and daily risks. It is truly appalling how many officers have been injured, slashed, stabbed, beaten, or spat at. These are professionals dedicated to maintaining order in prisons and correctional facilities, however, their personal safety and well-being are usually overlooked by the public and politicians.
The Alarming Trend of Violence in Prisons
In England and Wales, the situation is profoundly concerning. In the 12 months leading up to September 2024, there were 10,496 recorded assaults on prison staff, highlighting a 23% increase from the previous year and setting a record. This equates to a shocking rate of 120 assaults per 1,000 prisoners.
Across the Atlantic, the available data is just as distressing. Comprehensive national statistics on assaults against prison officers in the U.S. may be difficult to obtain, nevertheless, reports from individual states highlight a dreadful reality. In New York State prisons alone, there were 1,760 recorded assaults on staff as of 01 November 2024, beating the previous record of 1,671 in 2023.
The severity and frequency of these attacks, in prisons around the world, clearly show that prison officers are facing escalating violence in an environment where their protection is, most certainly not, adequately prioritised.
The Reality of Prison Violence
Prison officers face such a variety of threats and risks from aggressive, dangerous, volatile, intoxicated, mentally ill, or emotionally disturbed inmates, and many of whom, of course, also have an extensive history of violence. Unlike police officers, who typically engage with criminals for only minutes or hours at a time, correctional officers are required to manage the same individuals for many years.
An officer can become a target for a violent outburst simply by being the bearer of bad news. Whether informing a prisoner of disciplinary actions, restrictions on privileges, a family tragedy, or a cell search, they often have no control over how an inmate reacts. Additionally, prisoners have ample time to fashion makeshift weapons from everyday objects. Items such as sharpened table or bed frame legs, razor blades melted into toothbrush handles, broken glass, ceramic shards, and even pencils and pens can become lethal in an instant.
A U.S. study from 2015 concluded that for every 10,000 full-time correctional officers, there were 254 workplace assaults and violent injuries reported. That is 36 times the rate for all American workers. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) reported that around 2,000 correctional employees sustained due to inmate violence each year. The statistics sadly speak for themselves. Correctional officers operate in one of the most dangerous professions, yet their safety measures remain frighteningly inadequate.
An interesting interview that made recent headlines, and confirms my point, is that of SkyNews: “I thought I was going to die”: The epidemic of violence against prison officers.
The High Risk of Physical Injuries
Several of these violent confrontations result in severe injuries, specifically those involving edged weapons. Understanding the potential for catastrophic bleeding is crucial, as uncontrolled bleeding remains one of the leading causes of death in violent attacks.
These are the well-known key areas where a severed artery can lead to rapid blood loss include:
- Carotid Artery (neck)
- Brachial Artery (upper arms)
- Radial Artery (wrists)
- Femoral Artery (groin)
- Axillary Artery (armpits)
A deep enough cut to any of these areas can result in unconsciousness within seconds and death within a very few minutes if the bleeding is not controlled. Even venous bleeding, resulting from shallower wounds, can be life-threatening if multiple injuries occur. Internal bleeding, often caused by deep penetration injuries or blunt force, is particularly challenging to treat, making the presence of effective protective gear essential.
While edged weapons pose a serious threat, blunt force is yet another major risk. Officers can also suffer devastating injuries from fists, feet, knees, elbows, or improvised weapons such as iron bars, bricks, fire extinguishers, or even pieces of furniture. The severity of blunt force trauma injuries will always depend on the size, weight, and velocity of the object used. Potential consequences can range from simple bruises and fractures to severe internal bleeding, organ rupture, and even death.
Are We Doing Enough to Protect Prison Officers?
Despite the overwhelming evidence of risk, many prison officers still lack adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). This is an undeniable failure in duty of care. If police officers, who engage with criminals for mere moments, are mandated to wear body armour, why are prison officers, who spend years supervising the same dangerous individuals, not afforded the same level of protection?
The question is simple: do we genuinely care about the safety of prison officers? If so, why is their access to PPE still debated? There is an unsettling double standard when it comes to ensuring officer safety across different frontline professions.
It is important to understand that Issuing body armour to prison officers should not be seen as an admission of failure or a sign of paranoia. It should be deemed a proactive step in mitigating established and known, potentially life-threatening risks. The correct PPE can mean the difference between life and death in an environment where violence has proven to be a daily reality.
Groundbreaking stab resistant vests / body armour offering certified protection against knives, spikes, hypodermic needles, and even blunt force trauma exist. Designed to defend against the most realistic threats faced by prison officers, these vests provide a reliable layer of safety without impeding mobility or comfort.
In addition to stab vests, slash resistant clothing is yet another critical layer of defence improving one’s personal safety. By preventing lacerations to key arteries, this specialised clothing significantly reduces the risk of rapid blood loss and immobilisation from severed tendons or muscles. Over recent years, advancements in such protective clothing have significantly improved personal safety in high-risk professions, and there should really be no excuse for prison officers to be left behind in this progress.
A Call to Action
More and more officers are raising their voices, yet their concerns appear to be often dismissed. The reality is that prison officers are placed in harm’s way without the level of protection afforded to other frontline professionals such as police officers. The dangers they face are undeniable, yet public discussions rarely acknowledge their concerns and struggles.
If we are serious about valuing the lives of prison officers, we must implement tangible safety measures. This includes acknowledging their risks, prioritising their well-being, and ensuring access to effective PPE.
About the Author
Robert Kaiser is the Founder and CEO of PPSS Group. Born in Germany, he is a global authority on violence prevention and reduction of workplace violence related injuries and fatalities.The company is led by a group of highly professional individuals with more than 90 years of frontline experience in military, law enforcement, prison, intelligence, and domestic and overseas security.