JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Rock County is going to ship inmates out of the county to ease overcrowding after a correctional officer was assaulted Tuesday.

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The officer suffered minor injuries after an inmate who was not in a secured cell attacked him, jail officials said.

Rock County Sheriff Eric Runaas said capacity for the jail is 477 inmates, but it averages about 577 inmates each day, meaning some of them have to sleep on the floor. Jail staff is making arrangement for 23 inmates to be transferred to jails in Juneau and Sauk counties.

"This situation clearly highlights an environment that is no longer safe for our officers," Runaas said. "The safety of my officers, as well as the inmates we house, is a responsibility I do not take lightly."

The injured officer was treated and released after the attack and is now on light duty. Around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, he was fixing a plumbing problem in a cell, which was left open so that the inmates housed on the floor could use the bathroom. That's when he was attacked, officials said.

Only one inmate, Eric Rowe, assaulted the worker, but other inmates taunted the officer during the incident, officials said.

Dane County is also shipping inmates out of the county, after Sheriff Gary Hamblin declared a similar clear-the-floors policy. Hamblin also said he is not willing to risk the safety of inmates or staff because of overcrowding. ( Sheriff: Alcatraz Has Better Design Than Dane County Jail )