By Deborah Buckhalter
Jackson County Floridian
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. — At the end of January 2014, Geo Group will take over operation of the Graceville Correctional Facility if the state follows through on its notice of intent to award that company the contract.
For the past three years, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) has run the prison, which opened several years ago as a private facility. Geo Group had been the original operator but lost out to CCA when its previous contract approached its term-limited expiration date, setting in motion the state’s competitive process.
Steven Owen, Senior Director of Public Affairs for CCA, issued the following statement regarding the loss of the contract:
“ We are disappointed with the decision,” he stated. “CCA put forward a very competitive and cost effective proposal to the state that would enable the dedicated professionals at Graceville to continue delivering the safe, secure operations and quality rehabilitation and reentry programming Florida has come to expect from CCA over the past three years.
That said, we respect the state’s decision and will work closely with them and the successful bidder to ensure a safe, seamless transition of management at the end of the current contract, which is set to expire on January 31, 2014. We will also work closely with our valued employees to ensure that they are provided every opportunity to continue their careers with CCA at one of our more than 60 facilities nationwide, including four in Florida.
We are grateful to the residents, businesses and officials in Graceville and the greater Jackson County area for their strong support and allowing CCA to be a part of their community these past three years.”
GEO Group did not return calls seeking details regarding the transition from its perspective, including information on whether the company plans to hire any of the CCA employees who do not take other positions with CCA when its contract ends.
There are no plans to close GCF, according to Ben Wolf, Director of Communications for the state’s Division of Management, which oversees contracts for Florida’s privatized prisons. Wolf said he had received inquiries regarding rumors of that possibility but that the speculation is unfounded.
Full story: GEO Group poised to regain prison contract