HARTFORD, Conn. -- Brett Owen said he’s been attacked three times by inmates in his 17 years as a correctional officer.

Now, he said, he’s taking a break from that work to bring attention to the violence taking place in Connecticut state prisons.

I’ve had “altercations with inmates, and I’ve been outnumbered 30-1,” Owen said. “Of course you always fear for your life.”

He said he works at a maximum-security prison in Uncasville where, two weeks ago, he had to help a coworker who had been attacked by an inmate.

“They suffered puncture wounds to the neck, facial areas and knee injuries,” he said. “But the worst injury is the traumatic nature of it.”

There were five correctional officers attacked in an eight-day period recently, said Owen.

The increase in violence has prompted lawmakers to find a way to address the problem.

“We must find better ways to protect our correction officers who literally put their lives on the line everyday,” said Christopher Donovan, House majority leader.

Part of the problem comes from overcrowding in the prisons, said Owen.

He said he hopes a new task force being created by House Speaker James Amann comes up with a plan that will create a safer work environment before an officer loses a life.

“You’re dealing with inmates that are doing life sentences,” said Owen. “They are there for the rest of their lives. Of course they have nothing to lose.”

Rep. Michael Lawlor, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he’s worried that crowded conditions at the state's prisons are worsening the situation. He said the inmate population is more than 600 people higher than this time last year.

State correctional officers said they'd like the task force to look at issues such as improving staff-to-inmate ratios, filling vacant positions and reviewing a behavior management program at Northern Correctional Institution in Somers.