Politics

Two prison firms cleared

The FDLE's report on $12.7M in overpayments finds no intent to steal.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published June 26, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement closed an investigation and cleared two private prison companies of criminal charges Monday.

Lawmakers had asked FDLE to investigate for criminal activity, after state auditors reported that the companies improperly collected more than $12.7-million in overpayments.

Gov. Charlie Crist has approved FDLE's final report, which clears the GEO Group, Inc., and the Corrections Corporation of America of criminal wrongdoing.

The 22-page report, released Monday, points out weaknesses in the originally negotiated contract that allowed for some over payment and also quotes heavily from interviews with those who denied "inappropriate relationships."

The problems stemmed from contracts negotiated with the now abolished Correctional Privatization Commission (CPC) whose executive directors resigned amid the controversy.

"Inspector General (Steve) Rumph advised FDLE that he did not suspect that there was any 'evil intent' by members of the CPC, but rather an attempt to make the private prisons successful, " the report found.

Investigators were looking at whether or not there was intent "to steal or defraud, " said FDLE spokeswoman Heather Smith. They did not find any intent, she added.

[Last modified June 25, 2007, 22:55:55]