Private providers tell appropriations panel they can supply funded bed space; GEO seeks state‑funded expansion
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Summary
CoreCivic and GEO Group testified in support of governor budget items and discussed capacity expansions; GEO described a 480‑bed Riverbend expansion and said new expansion would become state property within 24 months under the current project plan.
Representatives from private prison operators told the Appropriations Committee they can supply additional funded bed space and outlined expansion plans that lawmakers are weighing.
CoreCivic said it can provide funded beds at Coffee and Wheeler if the committee funds those items. GEO Group described a proposed 480‑bed expansion at Riverbend that, as presented, would be an initial state investment that becomes the state's property within 24 months rather than a long lease. GEO told the committee that labor costs will be the primary driver of post‑expansion per‑diem operating costs and that the company is preparing a rough order of magnitude to share with committee staff.
Committee members queried turnover and vacancy rates; GEO and CoreCivic said turnover has declined as wages rose but acknowledged ongoing recruitment challenges. GEO estimated that the Riverbend expansion would require roughly 118–160 additional correctional officers depending on custody classification and said it expected to be able to staff the facility if asked.
The exchanges emphasized that any expansion and staffing plan would be coordinated with the Department of Corrections on classification, per‑diem rates and operating expectations; GEO said it had scheduled a site walk with the department to finalize a rough cost estimate.
