A JUNEE jail inmate who assaulted two correctional officers has been given additional prison time because of the attacks.

Richard Dowdy, now at the South Coast Correctional Centre at Nowra, was sentenced in Wagga Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to assaulting one officer - causing him actual bodily harm - and common assault of another officer.

Police facts tendered to the court said Dowdy became angry at one prison guard when told he had to change cells in February last year.

Another guard who stepped in to support his colleague was punched in the head by Dowdy.

That guard suffered a cut and bruising to the top of his head and bruising to his right elbow, knee, shin and eye.

The other guard suffered a graze to his right elbow in the scuffle.

Dowdy's solicitor, Robert Hussey, told the court his client acted the way he did because he suffered a panic attack after being told of the move.

He said Dowdy, now 31, spent three months in segregation as a result of the assaults.

Mr Hussey asked Magistrate Michael Antrum to take into account that it took police nine months to charge Dowdy.

In sentencing Dowdy, Mr Antrum said everyone, including police and correctional officers, were entitled to go to work without expecting to be attacked.

"You should be able to work and be free of violence," Mr Antrum said.

Mr Hussey asked that any sentence not extend Dowdy's prison time beyond his current release date of August 14, but Mr Antrum did not agree.

He sentenced Dowdy to 20 months in jail, with 15 months non-parole, for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The sentence was backdated to October 30 last year, making Dowdy eligible for release on January 29, 2015.

The common assault drew a 12-month jail sentence with a non-parole period of nine months, also backdated to October 30.