Corrections Corporation of America has a strong, proud history with Hamilton County that spans more than 30 years. During that time, we have served as a solution for county leaders and a benefit to the local economy by providing safe, secure housing and quality rehabilitation and re-entry programming at cost savings to taxpayers.
While we welcome and support robust debate concerning corrections, particularly as county leaders discuss options for a potential new jail, any conversation about our company should be rooted in facts — not misinformation.
For example, a recent op-ed in this newspaper, “When Considering Privatizing The Jail, All That Glistens Is Not Gold,” made a number of false and misleading accusations about our company that need to be corrected.
To start, let me be clear, it is CCA’s longstanding policy not to draft, lobby for or in any way promote policies that determine the basis or duration of a person’s incarceration. The piece falsely accuses CCA of advocating for harsher sentencing laws, citing controversial Arizona immigration legislation that our company had nothing to do with. This misinformation came from a 2010 NPR story that was widely criticized for inaccuracy by various media outlets and state officials in Arizona and was later corrected.
The opinion piece also misrepresents the nature and purpose of a Real Estate Investment Trust, which is the structure under which our company operates. CCA is a REIT because real estate is an essential core of our business, with land and buildings comprising approximately 90 percent of our gross fixed assets. The REIT conversion was approved by the Internal Revenue Service after a rigorous review process. Under this structure, we continue to generate tax revenues at the federal level and in every state and locality where we operate. This also ensures that our properties and operations are being taxed appropriately as required by law.
Finally, the piece tries several times to draw false connections between disclosures in CCA’s annual shareholder report and actual policy stances. Those reports are by nature meant to communicate to shareholders any and all potential risk factors for a company, regardless of whether the company takes a stance on those issues. For example, the Coca-Cola Company discloses that obesity concerns may decrease demand for its products, but the company does not lobby against obesity awareness.
Perhaps most egregiously, however, the piece mischaracterizes our company’s mission and commitment to safely and cost-effectively house Hamilton County’s inmates, treat them with dignity and respect, and help them successfully re-enter society at the end of their sentences — all while saving taxpayers money.
The truth is, our company recognizes America’s high recidivism rates as a tragic and unacceptable crisis. That’s why re-entry programs have long been a part of the work done at CCA; why every year our principals and teachers help more than 3,000 inmates earn a GED, the equivalent of a high school diploma; and why last fall our company made a number of system-wide commitments that it will work to achieve over the next five years. These commitments include:
Enrolling up to 2,300 inmates in faith-based programs and achieving a 95 percent completion rate for participants;
Helping more than 12,000 inmates earn the equivalent of a high school degree; and
Increasing industry-recognized vocational certificates by 5 percent annually based on the current inmate population.
CCA has a proven track record of maintaining safe, secure facilities; preparing those in our care to return to their communities; benefiting the local economy; and bringing savings to the county’s taxpayers. We are proud of the trust Hamilton County has placed in our company for so many years, and we look forward to rewarding that trust with our continued hard work and commitment to providing quality correctional services.
Steven Owen
Managing Director, Communications
Nashville
Steve Owen is the managing director of communications for Corrections Corporation of America. CCA has been operating the Silverdale Detention Facilities on behalf of Hamilton County for the past 31 years.
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I've been reading the recent articles on CCA taking over the county jail. One article written by local citizen George Jackson shares various unethical actions by CCA; most are listed in CCA's 2014 Annual Report. Then I read the article written by CCA's communications director from Nashville. I'd like to show a few points of difference.
First, the CCA PR man talks about CCA real estate's classification. But doesn't deny what Mr. Jackson stated which was CCA nearly went bankrupt in the late 1990's and settled a lawsuit with shareholders that cost over $100 millions. That lawsuit alleged poor leadership by CCA officials and misleading information by the company was given to its shareholders. Mr. Steve Owens, CCA communications director, failed to comment on this dark episode of the company.
Second, CCA may not directly draft legislation or advocate lengthy prison sentences for nonviolent offenders but do they support organizations that do? That is what the NPR story used by Mr. Jackson alleged. Mr. Owen stated the story had been widely criticized but never gave examples supporting that statement.
Mr. Owen states Mr. Jackson's article "mischaracterizes our company’s mission and commitment to safely and cost-effectively house Hamilton County’s inmates, treat them with dignity and respect..."
Mr. Owen failed to mention in providing that care with "dignity and respect" they failed to provide medical care to a pregnant inmate; leading to her miscarriage. CCA settled the lawsuit for $690,000. That occurred here in Chattanooga but a similar incident occurred in the Jesse R. Dawson State Jail near Dallas, Texas. A female inmate, serving a one-year sentence for violating probation on a drug possession charge, tried to notify guards she was having pains. CCA gave no assistance and she gave birth in a toilet. It took CCA staff 15 minutes to find the key to the cell door. Mr. Owen characterizes this as "dignity and respect" not to me. By the way that CCA facility, has been characterized as the worst in Texas in regards to conditions and staff preparedness.
The difference between Mr. Owens article (that defends CCA) and Mr. Jackson's article (which argues civil rights and humane violations by CCA) is specifics. Mr. Owen defends the company he works for by vague statements; essentially saying 'this isn't true.' Yet, he never says why it's not true. In contrast Mr. Jackson gave specific examples of CCA violations. Most of those examples are from CCA's own Annual Report. I prefer specifics.
Wesley Chambers
Birchwood,TN
District 9 Voter