Report notes prison security weaknesses

WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. government inquiry into the most recent death of a federal correctional officer points up officers' concerns that inmates have become more violent.

Jose Rivera's June 20 killing, captured by surveillance cameras inside the high security federal penitentiary at Atwater, Calif., offered a somber look at the U.S. prison system, a Federal Bureau of Prisons report obtained by USA Today indicated.

During the attack, Rivera's colleagues were unable to reach him because of a locked door.

"It was like Rivera was caught in a bear trap," said Mark Peacock, the officer's attorney. "If the staff was able to respond with adequate force, Rivera might have survived the attack."

Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Traci Billingsley said there is "a sense that assaults (on staff) are more severe," while not commenting directly on the Rivera report, USA Today reported Monday.

Bryan Lowry, federal prison employees association president, said overcrowded conditions endangers prison officers and staffers. Bureau of Prison records indicate the overall system is 36 percent over capacity and 48 percent over capacity in high-security units, USA Today reported.

Bureau statistics indicate serious assaults on staffers increased slightly from 2007 to 2008, 72 incidents to 82, while less serious attacks -- such as pushing or shoving -- rose from 1,281 to 1,522 in the year-over-year comparison. Inmate slayings were up, from 12 in 2007 to 15 in 2008, the report indicated.