New federal women's prison in Ala. nearly complete

ALICEVILLE, Ala. (AP)
Construction is almost complete on a new medium security federal prison for women in Alabama.
Officials  report that the $250 million project near Aliceville in western Alabama is expected to be complete by November. Kathy Lichter with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons says widespread hiring for the 350-worker facility won't begin until Congress approves the 2012 budget.
Officials say about 15 experienced employees will be brought in to help with activating the prison and getting new workers trained.
The new prison was built to help relieve overcrowded facilities nationally. The closest women's prisons are in Tallahassee and Marianna, Fla.
Alabama has federal prisons for men in Talladega and at Montgomery's Maxwell Air Force base. Construction on the 1,500-inmate women's prison began in 2008.