DELANO, Calif. — Officials have confirmed that a North Kern State Prison correctional officer who was attacked by eight inmates last week, is expected to recover.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the incident happened on Friday at the Delano prison around 2 p.m. while the correctional officer was doing security checks in one of the facilities. Officials said during the checks the officer spotted an inmate with a contraband cell phone. The inmate allegedly attacked the officer before seven other inmates joined in.

Other correctional officers used pepper spray and the 40mm launcher to help stop the alleged attack.

The officer was taken to a local hospital was was later released.

The eight suspects were re-housed in the Administrative Segregation Unit pending the NKSP’s investigation.