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December 17, 2006
CO: State Rescinds GEO Contract to build new prison
State Rescinds Corrections Contract Offer To Private Prison
December 16, 2006
PUEBLO, Colo. -- The state has cut off negotiations and rescinded a contractwith developers planning to build a private prison in Pueblo.
Colorado Department of Corrections executive director Joe Ortiz sent aletter Friday to the GEO Group, ending six months of negotiations The letter cites numerous delays and unresolved issues and says the department has run out of patience with the developers.
The Florida-based GEO Group had been working for about four years to buildthe 1,000-bed prison near the Pueblo Memorial Airport industrial park.Construction never got under way. The prison would have been for pre-paroleprisoners and prisoners who had seen their parole status revoked.
GEO bought about 36 acres for the facility last year, but negotiations withthe state broke down over the company's demand that the DOC guarantee 90percent occupancy and grant a 30-year contract.
GEO operates private detention centers in 15 states and one Canadian
province as well as in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom. ThePueblo facility is one of two the company was planning in Colorado. Thecompany's Web site also indicates GEO in 2003 was awarded a contract todevelop a 1,000-bed immigration detention facility in the Denver suburb of Aurora.
A DOC spokeswoman says the department will put the Pueblo proposal back upfor bid, with no promise the facility will still be built in Pueblo.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/10553092/detail.html
Posted by lois at December 17, 2006 03:19 PM