Asked by user in Georgia. Answered by Enjuris Editors.
The United States Department of Justice estimates that the average ratio of inmates to correctional officers in state prisons nationwide is 4.9 to 1.
Unfortunately, understaffing issues are common in Georgia.
Although there are federal laws requiring a minimum ratio of inmates to correctional officers when it comes to private prisoner transportation companies, I am not aware of any laws requiring a minimum number of correctional officers in Georgia's prisons.
Nevertheless, you may be able to sue the prison for negligence if you're injured as a result of understaffing. You can learn more about suing a prison for negligence here. Keep in mind that to file a negligence lawsuit you must prove that YOU were harmed as a result of the prison's negligence. In other words, it's not enough to show that someone else was harmed.
You might consider contacting your local Georgia Legal Aid. The office may be able to help you with any legal issues and, if not, they can refer you to someone who can help.