Two prison officers have been suspended amid claims they sexually harassed colleagues.
Sodexo confirmed that two guards at HMP Northumberland have been placed on leave as the private operator carries out an investigation.
An HMP Northumberland spokesperson said: “We can confirm two members of staff have been suspended following allegations.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are underway.”
The jail was taken over in December 2013 and has been blighted by difficulties with staff shortages, violence among inmates and drugs among the problems to surface.
Last week it emerged that staff had taken serial rapist Ashley Wright to a KFC by guards who were supposed to be transferring him to a jail in Lincolnshire.
And over the past 18 months shocking footage has emerged from the Acklington prison of inmates seemingly high on 'spice' and of naked prisoners fighting while on leashes.
A recent Independent Monitoring Board said positive steps have been taken to help address the problems.
Among the measures was the appointment of a 'violence reduction manager' - hired solely to help reduce trouble behind bars.
The introduction of drug detection scanners and sniffer dogs has helped to crack down on drug use.
But the IMB report said that last year more than half of inmates revealed they still didn't feel safe, with some criminals being kept in a more dangerous prison than they should be.
Sodexo is now advertising for new guards with the recruitment advert stating: "Background and experience are not important."
