Prisons closing, prisoners moving

McLEANSVILLE, N.C. - The state Correction Department is moving about 950 prisoners as North Carolina's budget problems force it to close seven minimum-security prisons.

WRAL-TV reported that the Wilmington Residential Facility for Women closed this month. The Guilford Correctional Center, Gates Correctional Center and Union Correctional Center will close by Thursday.

Umstead Correctional Center is slated to close by Nov. 1, with the Cleveland Correctional Center closing by Dec. 1 and McCain Correctional Hospital closing by April.

The moves will save about $22 million. They're part of the department's plan to eliminate 1,000 jobs because of statewide budget cuts.

Department spokesman Keith Acree says the state will focus on expanding larger prisons, which are less expensive to operate than smaller ones.