Overview

• An inmate with a history of violent incidents assaulted a prison officer in Picassent's module 19, causing head and jaw trauma that requires weeks of medical leave.
• The attack occurred in a unit deemed unsuitable for high-risk inmates by the Ombudsman, whose recommendation to close the module has been ignored.
• Union groups blame negligent inmate classification policies and chronic understaffing for the escalating violence, with over 4,000 vacancies in Spain's prison system.
• A second incident in module 27, where understaffed officers faced threats from inmates, further underscores the resource shortages and security risks.
• Unions are calling for the transfer of the violent inmate, recognition of staff as agents of authority, and immediate upgrades to staffing and protective equipment.