Idaho prison officials are sending inmates out-of-state for the first time in nearly seven years.
The state Department of Correction says a contract was finalized last week to house up to 800 inmates at a privately run Colorado lockup to prevent overcrowding at home.
Idaho last sent inmates out-of-state in December 2005, but problems in Texas, as well as slowing inmate numbers here, prompted their return.
Idaho prisons chief Brent Reinke says procedures have since been implemented to help his agency better monitor out-of state prisoners.
Under the new agreement, Idaho is expected to pay Corrections Corporation of America more than $4.8 million this fiscal year to house inmates at the Kit Carson Correctional Center in Burlington, Colo.
An initial 250 inmates will go to the facility in August. (AP)
