The woman, whose identity we've concealed at request to protect the employees she knows at Green Bay Correctional Institution, says they work there because they want to help people.
It's a fear that's been in the back of her mind for years.
"I guess it's just really hard to feel safe," she says, visibly shaken by today's news, "and feel like those that you love, when they go and work there, are going to be safe, and are going to come home ok."
An inmate attack in September, sending three prison employees to the hospital, was only adding to her concern.
"Ever since then," she says, "I've been worried for the people that work there."
But hearing that someone she knows was attacked was something she never expected.
"That happened," she recalls, "and it just completely shook my world."
Now, she says the Green Bay Correctional Institution isn't as secure as it should be for its workers.
"In an institution like that, and the work that you're doing, you need to have as strong of security," she insists, "and as strong of measures as possible, to make sure that the people who work there are safe."
And she's calling for more conversation among lawmakers.
"I don't think that we've had enough discussion about the safety of the people who are going there," she says, "9 to 5, every single day."
"They're putting their life on the line every day," says Democratic State Senator Dave Hansen, of Green Bay, "and we're seeing that more and more."
Hansen says he often hears from correctional officers throughout the state who have a real fear for their lives at work.
He says he also knows a victim in September's attack.
"The guy has not been back to work," says Hansen, "multiple concussions, serious, serious injuries."
Hansen is calling for better prison funding, and within that, better pay and hours for employees, along with more training.
"And some of them are working 16-hour shifts upon 16-hour shifts," says Hansen. "They're overworked, they're stressed, and, they're dealing with serious, serious criminals."
Senator Hansen also says, in attacks like these, the inmates responsible should be prosecuted as soon as possible, and not in a matter of months.
