CCA Working with Institute in Basic Life Principles to Create Faith-Based Program; New Program To Encourage Inmate Rehabilitation.

Feature Editors/Business Editors

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2004

Inmates seeking spiritual direction as they strive to change their lives will be the beneficiaries of a new agreement between Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) (NYSE:CXW) and the Chicago-based Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).

The two organizations have developed a voluntary, faith-based program of inmate rehabilitation that will be offered at eight CCA facilities this year. The program could ultimately be expanded to serve inmates at all 64 CCA correctional facilities around the country.

"We have always had chaplains and counselors at our facilities and have seen the positive effect that spiritual counseling can have on an inmate's life," said Jim Seaton, CCA chief operating officer. "As CCA continues to evolve and enhance our broad faith-based programming, we approached IBLP to assist us in creating a prototype because they have expertise in faith-based programming."

IBLP has eight years of experience in prison ministry and faith-based programming in more than 60 prisons and jails in the U.S., including programs in many CCA facilities. However, this is the first time the company has developed such an extensive prototype.

"We chose to work with CCA because its leadership knows that the spiritual component of rehabilitation is vital," said Bill Gothard, founder of IBLP. "We have helped CCA design this program not only for support in the facilities, but also to help inmates successfully transition back into society."

CCA expects more than 1,000 inmates will complete the program in 2004.

The prototype will be tested in eight CCA facilities, including: Bay County Jail and Annex, Panama City, Fla.; Cimarron Correctional Facility, Cushing, Okla.; Coffee Correctional Facility, Nicholls, Ga.; Gadsden Correctional Facility, Quincy, Fla.; Kit Carson Correctional Center, Burlington, Colo.; New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility, Grants, N.M.; Silverdale Facilities, Chattanooga; and Wheeler Correctional Facility, Alamo, Ga.

The prison-based program is six months in duration, while the jail-based program lasts for four months. All inmates are eligible, regardless of religious background, and participation is completely voluntary. Participants will live in a designated unit that serves as a center for socialization where offenders learn to replace self-centered interests with principles promoting integrity, personal responsibility and accountability. Religious conversion is neither required nor encouraged for completion of the program.

In December 2003, IBLP began the 50 hours of training required for CCA chaplains and selected staff. The chaplain will oversee the program and a team of staff and community volunteers.

"We hope to create a culture where inmates can reflect on their spiritual lives," said Dennis Bradby, CCA vice president of Inmate Programs. "Inmates will experience up to 732 hours of faith-based activities after six months in the program. Activities include journaling, character work, anger management courses, community service, mentoring, and optional worship services and study groups."

Bradby says the program's intent is to enhance inmate rehabilitation and quality of life, and ease inmate transition into society, with the ultimate aim of decreasing costs associated with recidivism, crime and overcrowding.

In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program, CCA and IBLP will implement a study to measure cognitive thinking and behavioral changes at two pilot sites. Pre and post tests will be given to measure changes in criminal behavior of inmates in eight categories, including physical aggression, opposition defiance, blaming others, lying, assuming the worst, mislabeling, stealing and self-centeredness.

Seaton said CCA and IBLP will also conduct testing to measure the effectiveness of the faith-based program by assessing the number of grievances and incident reports in the facility. IBLP is also assessing plans to conduct one-and three-year recidivism studies.

The IBLP program is one of many forms of faith-based initiatives offered voluntarily to individuals of all faiths throughout the CCA system of correctional facilities.

About CCA - Corrections Corporation of America is the nation's largest owner and operator of privatized correctional and detention facilities and one of the largest prison operators in the United States, behind only the federal government and four states. The Company operates 64 facilities, including 38 Company-owned facilities, with a total design capacity of approximately 65,000 beds in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The Company specializes in owning, operating and managing prisons and other correctional facilities and providing inmate residential and prisoner transportation services for governmental agencies. In addition to providing the fundamental residential services relating to inmates, the Company's facilities offer a variety of rehabilitation and educational programs, including basic education, religious services, life skills and employment training, and substance abuse treatment. These services are intended to reduce recidivism and to prepare inmates for their successful re-entry into society upon their release. The Company also provides health care (including medical, dental and psychiatric services), food services, and work and recreational programs.

About IBLP - Founded in 1961, the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) is a Biblically based, not-for-profit, nonsectarian training and service organization dedicated to serving families, youth and leaders worldwide, through training in Biblical principles. IBLP offers seminars in Biblical principles, anger resolution, family, marriage and finance; secondary and higher education programs; and a variety of publications and resources. In addition, IBLP has prison, orphan, troubled youth and children's ministries. The organization has 11 national and three international training facilities, and has expanded its ministry to New Zealand, Russia, Romania, Mongolia, Australia, Taiwan and Mexico.

Editor's Note: Photos of faith-based inmates available. Contact Chantel Gurney at [phone] or [e-mail].