UPDATE: SCI Camp Hill will receive 1,000 inmates

Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections announced plans Friday to close two state prisons by June 30 in response to the mounting budget deficit.

The move would impact 800 staff members and several thousand inmates, although the department has not yet determined which two facilities it will close in 2017.

"We have implemented a variety of cost savings initiatives over the past several years yet we are again in the position where the [department] must make significant reductions because of the dire budget forecast," Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said, in a written statement.

Gov. Tom Wolf described the move as a measure to avoid broad cuts to other services.

"I chose to invest in schools - not prisons - because it's both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do," he said, in a written statement. "The future of Pennsylvania depends on making investments in what works and I'll do everything I can to ensure we're investing in all our kids and their futures."

Prisons being considered include SCI Frackville in Schuylkill County, SCI Mercer in Mercer County, SCI Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, SCI Retreat in Luzerne County and SCI Waymart in Wayne County:

According to the most recent state data, those five prisons had a total inmate population of nearly 7,000 as of Nov. 30, 2016.

It's unclear what would happen to those prisoners after the closings and a message left with a department spokeswoman was not immediately returned Friday.

As a whole, the department's prisons house nearly 48,000 inmates and are currently 3.9 percent over the total operational bed capacity. Since taking over his role in 2010 under then-Gov. Tom Corbett, Wetzel has worked on a number of reforms to address overcrowding.

Wetzel said the estimated 800 staff members who will be impacted will be offered a position elsewhere in the department.

"We understand that moving to another facility may be difficult, but we will try to make the transition as seamless as possible," he said, after meeting with union officials to discuss the plan.

The department plans to announced which prisons will be closed on Jan. 26.

In making that decision, it will consider "the ages, sizes, locations, operational costs, and specialty functions of the prisons, as well as economic impact on the affected communities."

According to the department, SCI Waymart serves inmates with serious mental health conditions and SCI Pittsburgh provides diagnostic and specialty medical services, including an oncology unit.

Prior to the closing of SCI Cresson and SCI Greensburg in 2013, the department had instituted a hiring freeze to allow vacancies to be filled by displaced employees from the closing prison. A similar hiring freeze will be in place in anticipation of this year's closings.

The department also plans to reduce overtime and capacity at community corrections facilities. An email account and toll-free number (1-888-316-8950) has been set up for staff, inmate families and others seeking information about the planned closings.