Founded 1987 | ||
Correctional Services Corporation (CSC), originally Esmor Correctional Corporation, was a correctional firm founded by James F. Slattery in 1987. It was located in Sarasota, Florida, USA, and traded on the NASDAQ (NASDAQ NMS:CSCQ). It had been a corporation specializing in the privatization of correctional facilities for federal, state, and local agencies housing adults, juvenile, and Department Of Homeland Security prisoners.
Much of CSC's profits were allegedly based on high crime-rates, as hinted in a 2002 statement by James F. Slattery: "Increases in parole rates combined with economic slowdowns traditionally lead to increased need for correctional services," he said. "We believe this historical pattern will be repeated and its effect felt in 2002 and beyond."
Correctional Services Corp. received a $300,000 fine for buying votes in the state legislature, issued by the New York State Lobbying Commission.
In 2005, CSC was sold to GEO Group for $62.1 million. GEO then divested the youth portion of the enterprise, Youth Services International, back to its principals. Inmates held in facilities run by Youth Services International, according to a 2013 HuffPost investigation, "have frequently faced beatings, neglect, sexual abuse and unsanitary food over the past two decades."
Due to audits findings of overcharges and reports of continuing abuse, the State of Florida cancelled its existing contracts with YSI, the remaining functional operation of CSC. The corporation was required to reimburse the state for $2,000,000 in overcharges.,