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Politics
Governor orders investigation into prison contracts
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 1, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist ordered the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday to conduct a preliminary investigation into more than $4.5 million in alleged overpayments to two companies that operate private prisons for the state. The contracts with GEO Group of Boca Raton and Corrections Corporation of America of Nashville, Tenn., were signed by the now-defunct Correctional Privatization Commission. Crist sent a letter to FDLE Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey directing him to "conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether any criminal violations have occurred." The Department of Management Services, which inherited the contracts, recently reached a $402,501 settlement with GEO but is still negotiating with Corrections Corporation. Management Services Secretary Linda South, in a statement Friday, blamed the excessive payments on concessions the commission had included in the contracts. The commission was abolished in 2004. Audits concluded the state paid for vacant jobs and other questionable expenses. Telephone messages left at the offices of the two companies after hours Wednesday were not immediately returned. GEO runs the Moore Haven and Southbay correctional facilities and has a contract to run a new one at Graceville. Corrections Corporation operates correctional facilities in Citrus and Hernando counties, Lake City, Panama City and Quincy. State Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, who is not related to the governor, last week urged the FDLE to investigate the relationship between the commission and contractors.
[Last modified February 1, 2007, 00:51:04]
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by Mark
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02/01/07 01:35 PM
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In another article Alex Sink says the contracts were so poorly written, we can not get the money back. Then at least stop doing business with them. The companies knew they were stealing from the citizens of Florida.
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by Sam
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02/01/07 01:23 AM
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$4500.00 in overpayments might be a mistake.
$4.5 million in overpayments is FRAUD.
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