You could apply your same reasoning to police officers to defend them beating the crap out of most of the people they arrest. As with cops, I think we need to pay more for better guards.
No, not the same thing. Beat the crap out of someone is administering justice. Turning your back on a crime against a convict is another.
I don't think the lack of professionalism is proper. Rather, I only offered an explanation for it.
Pay does not need to be raised for prison guards, however accountability for their failure to do their job needs to be.
My solution to prison problems is to make each prison separate and by itself with no more than 100 prisoners. Segregated as well.