Nine staffers at the Rhode Island state prison in Cranston have been placed on paid administrative leave after an inmate was abused there this week.

Corrections Director AT Wall says a 30 year-old inmate in minimum security was abused early last week. He says the nine staffers suspended were either directly involved in the abuse or knew about it and didn't report it.

Wall did not say what happened to the inmate. He said the man was injured and received medical treatment, but was not hospitalized. Wall says he's distressed that six of the nine suspended staffers are superior officers—one is a captain and five are lieutenants.

He says he doesn't believe abuse is widespread at the prison. The investigation is ongoing.