Gov. Dannel P. Malloy yesterday announced the closing of four housing units at the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers.

Malloy’s office described it as a result of the continuing decline in the state’s crime rate and the resulting drop in the prison population.

The four units – commonly knowns as “the Qs” – once held a total of more than 400 inmates. At its peak in 2008, Osborn housed more than 2,000 inmates across 17 housing units. With today’s announcement, the number of housing units has been reduced to 13 with a total inmate population below 1,400.

“As crime continues to experience a significant decline in Connecticut, we’ve been able to reallocate resources and close outdated prisons and portions of facilities throughout the state, including the four units announced today at Osborn. This is the direct result of smart criminal justice policies that are making our neighborhoods the safest they’ve been in nearly two generations,” Malloy said in a statement. “Across the country, bipartisan leaders are recognizing that these kinds of reforms are working, and Connecticut is leading these efforts. Violent criminals are serving longer sentences, while we’re tailoring our approach with non-violent offenders. We are making real progress and in the process, improving lives and bettering our communities.”

The state’s total prison population has dropped 13 percent since 2012.