D1A In Focus – Fall 2023

November 20, 2023


Welcome to your quarterly update from the Day 1 Alliance on the latest news and developments related to longtime private sector contractors serving the U.S. criminal justice and immigration systems.

Please share with colleagues and others interested in these key issues – new subscribers can sign up here.

Federal Judge Rules NJ Law Banning ICE Detention Contracts Unconstitutional

On August 29, U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch sided with the U.S. Department of Justice and CoreCivic in overturning part of the 2021 New Jersey law which sought to ban ICE detention as “unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause.” The judge approved an injunction against the application of the state law to the CoreCivic-operated Elizabeth Detention Center, which was set to have its contract end on August 31, saying the state had unconstitutionally intruded upon the “uniquely federal function” of immigration policy. He further stated that the potential domino effect of state laws banning federal detention “would result in nothing short of chaos.”

Read the full ruling by Judge Kirsch.

In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest in the case siding with CoreCivic in its lawsuit against the State of New Jersey, calling the 2021 state law banning ICE detention “plainly unconstitutional.” The federal government’s brief called the Elizabeth facility “mission critical,” stating that if it were forced to close “those severe impacts will become catastrophic.”

D1A Member Companies Stand Ready To Help Address Challenges Facing The Federal Prison System

In June, The Washington Post Editorial Board highlighted some of the challenges facing the federal prison system, writing: 

“It’s time for more attention to be paid to the BOP. A steady flow of reports has documented an agency beset by chronic problems — unsanitary kitchens, sexual assaults, an astonishing recidivism rate of around 43 percent — in urgent need of reform.”

As longtime government service providers, our member companies have for decades played a positive role in partnering with the Bureau of Prisons and expanding the capacity of our federal criminal justice system. Unfortunately, the administration’s 2021 Executive Order barring the Justice Department from entering into new contracts for corrections services has negatively impacted that important work.

These current challenges highlight the need for the federal government to have all tools available to meet its mission. Our members stand ready to help today as needed.

Motivational Speaker Inspires Whiteville Correctional Facility Inmates to Live Life of Purpose and Integrity

Hatchie Press, 7/12/23

CoreCivic’s Whiteville Correctional Facility (WCF) hosted national motivational speaker Baron Warren in honor of Father’s Day this year. Warren spoke to inmates at WCF about positive male leadership traits by which to aspire and model for their children. He also made stops at other CoreCivic facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, and Arizona. Read More

62 women incarcerated at Texas prison receive high school diplomas

ABC News, 7/5/23

ABC World News Tonight featured the graduation ceremony at an MTC-operated women’s correctional facility in Lockhart, TX, finding that its education programs “have been shown to reduce recidivism rates.” “The emotional and celebratory journey for a group of inmates. … New hope in an unlikely place,” said ABC News’ Linsey Davis.
Learn More

Help to Start Again: Kingman Prison Project Connects People with Disabilities to Accessible Resources

Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, 8/23/23

One of the biggest challenges of the criminal justice system is how to re-integrate people into public life after they have served their sentence in jail or prison. Among the most important tasks upon one’s release is finding a steady job. This process is difficult enough, but it can be especially difficult for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). A new project by GeoGroup, Arizona Vocational Rehabilitation, Collaborative Technology Solutions, Livescribe, and the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities is hoping to make that process easier.
Read More

Lycoming County Reentry Service Center hosts graduation for reentry program graduates

GEO Reentry, 8/25/23

GEO Reentry Services and the Lycoming County Probation Department in Williamsport, Penn., hosted a transition celebration for more than 100 individuals on probation who this month graduated from the Lycoming Reentry Service Center, an innovative non-residential day reporting program. Many graduates had work commitments, but 30 attended the event to receive certificates of completion and mark this next step in their reentry journey. The event was held at Lycoming College to accommodate the audience of 100, including judges, commissioners, the Lycoming College Criminal Justice chairperson, probation officials, program staff, family and friends who turned out to mark this milestone with graduates.
Read More

The Other Side: You are Not Alone by Dr. Latoya Lane Featured in Corrections Today

The GEO Group’s very own, Dr. Latoya Lane, Vice President of Community Solutions, had her self-published book, The Other Side: You are Not Alone, reviewed in the May 2023 issue of Corrections Today. This book is aimed at helping loved ones of incarcerated individuals cope with the challenges they face and offers unique insights into the mental stressors associated with knowing and loving someone in prison.
Read More

Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility’s Second Chance Ribbon Cutting

In July 2023, The GEO Group introduced the Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility (ATEF) as a Second Chance Center. At the celebration and ribbon cutting were community members, Alabama Department of Corrections leadership, J.F. Ingram State College leadership, as well as faculty and staff. Programs and services currently offered at ATEF  include cognitive behavioral therapy, substance use disorder programming, educational services, life skills, relapse prevention, cultural diversity programs, family services programs, workforce development activities, work release services, community volunteer service, faith-based services, and alumni and aftercare programs.
Read More

Tennessean names CoreCivic a Winner of the Middle Tennessee Area Top Workplaces 2023 Award

CoreCivic has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by Tennessean Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC.
Read More

From prison cells to graduation bells: 6 Otero County inmates earn high school diplomas

Six Otero County prison inmates got their high school diploma through the prison’s High School Equivalency Test in August. The Otero County Prison Facility offers an alternative high school diploma to inmates who were unable to graduate before being incarcerated.
Read More

The Day 1 Alliance (D1A) is a trade association representing private sector contractors helping government agencies address corrections and detention challenges in the United States. For more than 35 years, D1A members have worked with local, state, and federal governments led by members of both political parties to provide professional, humane, and respectful treatment to incarcerated and detained individuals. From day one, we understand we have a responsibility to provide safe and dignified care to those in our facilities. D1A members do not lobby for or against policies, regulations, or legislation that impact the basis for or duration of an individual’s incarceration or detention.

The members of the Day 1 Alliance are CoreCivic, The GEO Group, Management & Training Corporation (MTC), and LaSalle Corrections.

Learn more at day1alliance.org and follow us on Twitter @TheDay1Alliance.

Media inquiries: contact@day1alliance.org

 

 

 

Join The Alliance

Join us as we educate and inform Americans about the small but valued role of the private sector in meeting key challenges in corrections and detention.