KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Tennessee Department of Corrections has been asked by Governor Phil Bredesen to cut nine percent, or more than $50 million from its annual budget.

To do so, officials with the department said they’ll likely have to release around 4,000 convicted felons early from their inmate ranks.

“This isn't scare tactics,” said George Little, commissioner of the Department of Corrections. “This is sort of the tab coming home, and we are going to have to figure out how we are going to make ends meet."

Gov. Bredesen grilled Commissioner Little on the plan in order to guarantee the state took a serious look at who it let out before they restore their freedom. .

"You are saying those people would be A, non-violent and B, people who are coming to the end of their sentence periods or somethings like that,” asked Gov. Bredesen.

“Yes sir,” replied Little.

Unfortunately the cuts might not end there. Before all is said and done, the state may have to close down one or two prisons.

Most of Tennessee’s 14 state prisons were built within the last 20 years. Two of them are owned privately. Presumably, the oldest prisons would be the facilities most likely to close if needed.

The oldest prisons in the state are as follows:

- Northwest Correctional Complex Annex, Roan Mountain – built in 1986

- Southeastern Tennessee State Regional Correctional Facility, Pikeville – built in 1980

- Charles B. Bass Correctional Complex, Nashville – Main was built in 1979, Annex was built in 1946

- Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center, Memphis – built in 1976

- Turney Center Industrial Complex, Only and Clifton – Main was built in 1971, Annex was built in 1985