The opening of the main unit of Suwannee Correctional Institution will be delayed until December, Department of Corrections spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said Tuesday.

Plessinger said a low inmate population statewide is the reason for the delay. The main unit had been scheduled to open in August. Plessinger said jobs that would have been filled for that unit will be placed on hold until then as well.

“We don’t need to bring those positions on board because we don’t need to bring the beds online yet,” said Plessinger.

The statewide inmate population was lower than expected, according to the Criminal Justice Estimating Conference. The conference projects how many inmates will be housed in state penitentiaries.