New Morgan County prison now housing inmates

After a little more than three years of construction, the new 65-acre Morgan County Correctional Complex is now housing inmates.

The prison replaces the historic Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex built in 1896, most famous for housing James Earl Ray -- the man convicted of murdering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This new state prison is so large that officials are calling it four prisons for the price of one, and that price tag is steep.

The facility cost $158 million to build.

"This is a very exciting day for the state of Tennessee. It's a great day for the Department of Correction," said Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner George Little.

The prison held an opening day ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon to mark the official start to a new era in Morgan County correction.

"This is a season of birth, and we will have to raise up this facility in the way that we want it to be," Commissioner Little said.

The complex has more than 2400 beds separated into 4 pods -- maximum, medium, and minimum security, as well as a medical pod.

Though its new beds, toilets, walls, and even basketball courts put the facility at the top of the list of Tennessee prisons, it's what the complex is doing for non-prisoners that makes it more special to the community.

"This is really a bright spot in terms of employment. The net increase is on the order of 250 to 300 jobs," Commissioner Little said.

Despite lay-offs across the state, the complex is hiring, which is good news for correctional officers like Corporal Adrian Hamby. He works in the transport section of the new prison.

"I know times are tough in the state of Tennessee, but the good Lord's seen fit for us to have jobs, so I'm just thankful for that," Hamby said.

Altogether, the Morgan County Correctional Complex will employ more than 650 people.

It's a prison of paradox, where doors close on some and open to new opportunity for others.