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Representative Earl L. "Buddy" Carter, Ga.-01, along with U.S. Senator David Perdue, R-Ga., and Representatives Lynn Westmoreland, Ga.-03, Tom Price, Ga.-06, Austin Scott, Ga.-08, Doug Collins, Ga.-09, Jody Hice, Ga.-10, and Rick Allen, Ga.-12, called on the Department of Justice to honor a contract with the GEO Group, the operator of the privately-operated D. Ray James Correctional Facility in Folkston, Georgia, to continue operations at the facility for another two years after the contract was rescinded by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) without explanation or factual basis. The rescission of the contract and attempted closure of the facility comes as a larger DOJ initiative to phase out privately-operated prisons such as D. Ray James.
In a letter to United States Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates the delegation wrote, "The D. Ray James Correctional Facility houses criminal aliens who were convicted of federal crimes and are awaiting deportation. The GEO Group was awarded a four-year contract on October 1, 2010, and BOP has had three options to extend the contract for two years. Based on the strong performance of the GEO Group and the valuable role DRJ plays in the prison system, BOP extended the contract on the same terms from September 30, 2014 to September 30, 2016. On August 18, 2016, again on account of high performance, the GEO Group was formally notified by BOP that its contract had been extended for an additional two years. The following day, without explanation or factual basis, BOP rescinded the extension."
D. Ray James Correctional Facility has received a superior rating from the BOP and is responsible for 472 jobs and $33 million in annual, direct local spending, with $100 million in economic input. If the contract is not honored at the current terms, these jobs and the economic benefits will be put in jeopardy.
"We urge you and BOP to honor the two-year contract extension granted to the GEO Group on August 18, 2016. Maintaining the extension of the contract is important for the citizens of Georgia, for our immigration laws, and for U.S. taxpayers, who expect and deserve continued strong performance from facilities funded with their hard-earned money," the delegation wrote.
Click here to view the letter sent to United States Attorney General Sally Yates.
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