NC Closing Some Prisons

McLEANSVILLE, N.C. (AP) - 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.