A woman said she plans to sue the state of Texas after she was raped by an inmate at a prison where she was working as a teacher.

Nicole Truelove, 45, stood in front of a federal courthouse in Houston on Thursday with her attorneys and tearfully shared her story with the public.

The Dallas Morning News does not typically name alleged victims of sexual assault, but Truelove has come forward publicly with her case.

She said she was teaching a class at the Ferguson Unit in Madison County on Nov. 13 when she saw one of the inmates masturbating in her classroom, according to the Houston Chronicle. After giving the inmate repeated warnings, she wrote him up.

When class was over, the inmate hid behind the classroom door and waited for everyone to leave, she said, including the correctional officers who were assigned to the area.

He "grabbed me by my hair and slammed me up against the back of my classroom door," Truelove said.

The four-time felon with a history of drug and burglary convictions threatened Truelove's children as he sexually assaulted her. There were no cameras posted in the area, she said, and the guards who should have been there were nowhere to be found, she said.

After she was released, she immediately reported the assault and went to the hospital for a rape kit, she said.

Truelove said she decided to share her story because no charges have been filed and she believes the work environment at the prison is unsafe for the other teachers there. She called on Gov. Greg Abbott to charge the inmate.

"There has not been one charge filed," she said. "Mr. Abbott, when will these charges be filed?"

The prison, which is about 20 miles northeast of Huntsville, holds up to 2,400 inmates and has a 25 percent vacancy rate for guards, the Chronicle reports.

Truelove's attorneys blame shortfalls in the unit's security for the attack.

"Allowing violent felons to masturbate in front of female employees creates one of the most hostile working atmospheres I have ever heard of," said attorney Randall Kallinen. "Combined with known blind spots and lack of guards, it is the most irresponsible behavior imaginable."

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice released a statement saying an internal review is being conducted and the inmate was transferred to another facility.

"While the correctional settings present unique challenges, the department is committed to providing a safe work environment for all employees," TDCJ spokesman Jason Clark told the Chronicle.

"This never should have happened; it could have been easily avoided," said Truelove's attorney, David Lindsay. "And if changes aren't made by the Department of Criminal Justice, this will happen again."

Truelove's attorneys plan to file a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming the state did not protect her, according to KPRC-TV.

"Today I will stand up for change in the prison education departments for the teachers that feel led to educate inmates in hopes of giving them a chance at a new life upon their release," she said. "I will not stop until I know he will never get out."