(Des Moines, IA) -- After two staff member were killed during a hostage-taking incident at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, the Iowa Department of Corrections contracted for a report to be done in order to improves safety and security.
The report found that state prisons in Iowa are 16% over capacity.
Additionally, there are staff shortages in all departments with struggles to recruit nd retain custody and nursing staff.
KCRG-TV9 reported that the state paid over $863,000 in overtime to Anamosa prison staff over the past two years because staff shortages.
The review said the state should update security controls, operational systems, and training practices to achieve a safer better run system.
The full report can be read here.