Three deputies at the Richmond County jail were hospitalized Friday after efforts to shut down an inmate card game ended in violence. Officials say the deputies were attacked after confronting a group of 31 inmates who were caught gambling.

Captain William Reeves is in charge of the Richmond County jail. He blames the violence on what he sees as a trend in the type of inmates coming into the jail.

"It seems lately we’ve been getting a lot of younger inmates in that are gang members and they have the 'they just don’t care' attitude and they seem really violent nowadays," said Reeves.

Eight inmates have been charged with three counts of aggravated battery. Two of them are also being charged with aggravated assault on a police officer for allegedly using pencils to stab a deputy in the face.

Tags: Augusta, county jails, Richmond County Jail, jail violence