An Illinois prison spokeswoman says an assault on six workers by five inmates at the maximum-security Pontiac Correctional Center appears to have resulted from a failure to follow workplace safety procedures.
Illinois Department of Corrections spokeswoman Nicole Wilson said Monday that the agency's investigation of the incident will include looking into why procedures weren't followed and how future incidents can be prevented.
Wilson says the assault doesn't appear to have resulted from a lack of policy or a breakdown in existing policies. She was responding to a union statement that policies and procedures designed to keep staff safe have been ignored or superseded by new practices.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says the assault Sunday was sparked by an inmate punching a correctional lieutenant.
