2008-08-18 23:57:04 -
www.correctionscorp.com/ - Corrections Corporation of America Louise Grant, CCA spokesperson, 615-263-3106 louise.grant@correctionscorp.com or LeeAnn Archuleta, La Palma spokesperson, 520-464-3971 leeann.archuleta@correctionscorp.com Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation's largest provider of corrections management services to local, state and federal government, has completed Phase One of the company's largest undertaking in its 25-year history -
the 3,060-bed La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz., which houses inmates for the State of California.
The first phase of La Palma Correctional Center features 1,020 beds and was completed approximately two months ahead of schedule on July 1. The facility began receiving inmates from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) less than two weeks later on July 12.
"We were originally scheduled to bring 360 beds on line each month, beginning in July," explains Buddy Johns, CCA senior director, project development. "Due to our efficiency and the collaboration of partnering contractors, architects, engineers and the City of Eloy, CCA effectively made an additional 680 beds available to California two months earlier than expected."
Such an accomplishment - the ability for the company to outpace its own accelerated construction timelines - exemplifies CCA's distinguished ability to swiftly meet the needs of often-overburdened partnering agencies, while producing a high-quality correctional campus that meets the housing, security and programmatic needs of a diverse inmate population.
"The expertise of CCA's real estate and site acquisition team, coupled with the efforts of respected construction firm J.E. Dunn, have enabled us to not merely meet - but to beat - our own timetables for this historic project," says Frank Betancourt, CCA vice president of Real Estate. "From day one, our goal has been to build a well-constructed, innovatively designed, safe and secure facility that responsively meets the needs of our partnering customer and supports our commitment to the residents of Eloy."
More than a quarter-century of success in public-private partnership has earned CCA a national reputation for building state-of-the-art jails and prisons in record time. The company can often site, design and construct a facility in just 12-16 months, compared to the 36-48 months a similar project often takes in the public sector.
"Several innovative practices are pushing the project forward at the current pace," said Doug O'Neill, J.E. Dunn Construction senior project manager. "For example, the housing units are prefabricated, shipped to the campus site and set-up independently. Then the rest of the housing unit is built around the cell modules."
Phase Two of La Palma Correctional Center, which includes all support buildings, is scheduled to be completed before the end of August. By early October, the next 1,020 beds are scheduled to come on line. And by January 2009, the remaining 1,020 beds are expected to be completed.
"We had projected completing this project in March 2009, even with our advanced schedules," said Daren Swenson, CCA managing director of Operations in Arizona. "Entirely completing a new correctional project of this scale is not only time- and cost-efficient, it puts the citizens of Eloy and surrounding areas in highly anticipated, fulfilling jobs sooner than expected. That's a real benefit to local families and the community as a whole."
About CCA
CCA is the founder and industry leader of the private corrections management industry, representing the nation's fifth-largest corrections system, behind the federal government and three states. CCA currently operates 65 facilities, including 41 that are company-owned, with a total design capacity of approximately 81,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 17,000 employees who provide comprehensive educational, vocational, therapeutic and addictions treatment programs intended to prepare inmates for successful re-integration with society.
La Palma Correctional Center on Course for Completion Months Ahead
of Schedule
