The Tennessean reported June 26 that the Tennessee state appeals court will determine if Corrections Corporation of America, the largest U.S. private detention operator, is an equivalent to a government entity, and therefore should release public records to the same extent.
CCA says that “the release of such records will set a bad precedent with other private companies who contract with the state,” reported the newspaper. Currently, private prison operators do not have to release public records.
Alex Friedmann, Prison Legal News Associate Editor and vice president of advocacy group Private Corrections …

Two more detention facilities will be going up in California.
Last week, the AP reported that ICE was seeking proposals to build a privately run 2,200 immigration bed facility in Los Angeles. The facility will be located within a 120 mile radius of the DHS/ICE Los Angeles Field Office currently located at 300 N. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Currently, ICE can house up to 1,400 detainees at a facility owned by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as well as other local jails it contracts.
Meanwhile, Corrections Corporation …

ICE is looking for a private contractor to carry out inspections at 175 of its immigrant detention centers.
The successful contractor will provide Compliance Inspection Teams (CIT) for annual and pre-occupancy inspections at detention facilities. Each CIT assessment shall assess the detention facility status for compliance with all applicable ICE Detention Standards and provide an inspection report on ICE designated forms.
This is the latest round of annual inspections outsourced by the agency. The first round of semi-annual reports was released in May 2008. In a June 2008 report, ICE’s Office …

The math is simple. More demand for immigrant detention beds, plus more government funding, equals more business for Corrections Corporation of America. Every year since 2003, the company has made record profits.

In San Diego, the ACLU lawsuit prompted ICE to move some of the detainees to other detention centers. It also prompted CCA to propose constructing a new facility nearby that would hold four times more detainees. Thus, rather than being penalized for overcrowding, the company may even end up winning a new contract.