By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Inmates at the oldest working prison west of the Mississippi were moved to their new home Wednesday.
The state of Missouri is opening a new prison in Jefferson City to replace the old State Penitentiary. More than 1,300 inmates were safely re-located Wednesday.
The new $128 million maximum security prison will house nearly 2,000 men.
The new prison is on a 160-acre site about eight miles east of Jeff City. The old prison is in the downtown section, a few blocks east of the state Capitol. Both are located along the Missouri River.
A commission is planning how to use the old prison and surrounding grounds. Some state office buildings already are under construction on the site. Other ideas include hotels and a convention center.