WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT)–In recent months there have been multiple reports of employees at the South Dakota Penitentiary being assaulted by inmates.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says when it comes to those crimes, his stance is clear.

Jackley says these assaults can oftentimes be traced back to drug use that landed an inmate in prison in the first place.

Jackley says when it comes to correctional officers being assaulted while on the job, he’ll always have their back.

The most high profile assault at the Penitentiary occurred in 2011 when correctional officer R.J. Johnson was killed by inmates Rodney Berget and Eric Robert, who were both convicted of murder and put to death.