HARRISBURG -- In an effort to reduce crowded conditions in state prisons in Pennsylvania, a second prison will be built in Fayette County in the next several years.

The exact location within the county for the new $200 million facility hasn't been found yet but a site search will start soon.

"Our state corrections system is overcrowded," said Corrections Commissioner Jeffrey Beard, who announced plans for the new prison yesterday along with the Department of General Services and state House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg.

The 2,000-bed, medium-security prison will take about four years to design and build once a site is found. It will bring 600 new prison jobs to the region and will be similar in design to the current State Correctional Institution - Fayette, which opened in 2003.

The total population for the 27 current state prisons is almost 47,000 inmates, or about 6,000 over capacity. The increase in the number of prisoners is expected to continue at least through 2012. Prison officials are hoping to build two more prisons in addition to the new one in Fayette.

"Jobs, jobs, jobs, it doesn't get much more important than that simple four-letter word,'' said Mr. DeWeese, who said there could be an additional 600 "spin-off jobs" in the service and retail sectors of Fayette and Greene counties' economy. There also would be about 1,000 construction jobs in building the prison, he said.

Mr. DeWeese, who has been in the House for more than 30 years, is in a difficult re-election battle against Republican Greg Hopkins.

Mr. DeWeese has been sharply criticized recently because 12 present or former House Democrats or staffers have been charged by Attorney General Tom Corbett for allegedly using state time and money to campaign. They have maintained their innocence.