INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Department of Correction expects to gain more than 2,000 beds for inmates by shifting prison programs and inmates to different locations.

Female youth offenders will move from Indianapolis to Madison in southeastern Indiana.

Women in the Indiana Women's Prison near downtown Indianapolis will be moved to the former juvenile facility. And the Plainfield Re-entry Educational Facility will move its mission to the women's prison.

IDOC Commissioner Edwin Buss said the moves will not compromise public safety.

"We will not jeopardize public safety just to save a few bucks," Buss told 6News' Norman Cox. "We will not compromise the integrity of the juvenile justice system by giving blanket furloughs to offenders, like other states have done."

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said he is disappointed that new inmates are coming to the old women's prison, which is in a neighborhood the city hopes is primed for economic development.

"They're allowed to do it. It's zoned for that. But the mayor is definitely interested in hearing what the neighbors have to say," said policy director David Wu.

About 440 correction workers will be affected. Officials said they will have the opportunity to apply for revamped jobs, although some may have to relocate or be retrained.

Officials said the shifts will save space and money, but it won't help Indiana's shortage of maximum security beds.