SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- The state prison system in South Dakota is seeing its share of violence. There are currently more than a hundred court cases involving prison inmates in the hands of the Attorney General's office. Authorities investigating 35-year-old woman’s death A judge recently sentenced two inmates convicted of attempting to murder a correctional officer inside the state penitentiary. The judge said the officer was lucky to be alive after receiving more than 70 blows, many to his head. The judge sentenced Kyle Jones to an additional 50 years and Lester Monroe to 35. Jones smiled and smirked at the judge and said he wasn't sorry for what he did. He told the judge there will be more violence until inmates are treated with, in his words "more respect". The Attorney General's office prosecuted the case. "It's important to me we make sure we are doing everything we can to keep our guards, keep our other inmate staff, medical staff as well as other inmates safe," said Attorney General Marty Jackley. Right now the Attorney General's office has 117 criminal cases pending out of the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Jackley says he is taking a no-tolerance position and will vigorously prosecute each and every case. "If you are going to do harm to prison officials there will be significant consequences. Monroe and Jones receiving 35 and 50-year sentences sent that message to leave our guards alone," said Jackley. Jackley says Jones' 50-year sentence doesn't even start until 2063, so it is basically a life sentence. The current penitentiary is 120 years old. The Governor's office says the building is overcrowded, inefficient and costly to maintain. A House bill authorizing the construction of a new men's prison in Lincoln County was introduced earlier this month. Department of Corrections officials say a new prison would improve safety for both the officers and inmates. The planned prison site is between Harrisburg and Canton, roughly 10 miles southeast of Sioux Falls.