HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania prison officials said Friday they will close two prisons this year, citing a declining inmate population, the need to save money and other factors.

The two will be chosen from a list of five prisons. Those are Frackville, Mercer, Pittsburgh, Retreat and Waymart.A decision will be announced Jan. 26, and the two selected are slated to close by the end of June. The Corrections Department said about 800 staff and several thousand inmates will be affected.In a statement, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said shuttering two prisons will help the state address its budget deficit."By investing in the things that make Pennsylvania a better place, like reducing recidivism and improving our schools, we can ensure the long-term prosperity and safety of our commonwealth," Wolf said. "I chose to invest in schools — not prisons — because it's both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do."To prepare for the closings, the Corrections Department has had a hiring freeze designed to open up jobs for potential transfers from the shuttered prisons. All prison staff will be offered transfers.The state prison population is now just over 49,000, after reaching nearly 52,000 in 2012.Space that recently became available at Camp Hill State Prison for an additional 1,000 inmates also contributed to the state's decision to close two prisons. The Corrections Department also plans to reduce by half the number of inmates in halfway houses under its community corrections program.Waymart is located 20 miles from Scranton, Frackville about 10 miles from Pottsville, Retreat about 10 miles south of Wilkes-Barre and Mercer 70 miles south of Erie. Pittsburgh is on the Ohio River, just north of downtown.Corrections officials indicated Waymart and Pittsburgh may be difficult to close because Waymart handles inmates with more severe mental health issues and Pittsburgh serves as a diagnostic and classification center, as well as housing medical services such as a cancer treatment unit.Pennsylvania closed two prisons in 2013, Cresson State Prison and Greensburg State Prison.