Corrections Corporation of America Announces 2007 First Quarter Financial Results

May 3, 2007

CCA Also Announces New Contract Award From Arizona Department Of Corrections

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - May 3, 2007 - Corrections Corporation of America (NYSE: CXW) (the "Company" or "CCA"), the nation's largest provider of corrections management services to government agencies, announced today its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007.

Financial Review

First Quarter of 2007 Compared with First Quarter 2006

For the three months ended March 31, 2007, CCA reported net income of $32.6 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, compared with $21.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the same period in the prior year. Financial results for the first quarter of 2006 included a charge of $0.01 per diluted share for refinancing transactions completed in January 2006. Excluding the refinancing charge in the prior year quarter, earnings per diluted share increased 44.4% representing the seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year double digit increases in diluted earnings per share.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2007 was $66.2 million, compared with $49.9 million for the same period in 2006. EBITDA adjusted for the refinancing charge in 2006 ("Adjusted EBITDA") increased 28.8% to $84.5 million during the first quarter of 2007 from $65.6 million during the same period in 2006. Results were substantially driven by strong demand for prison beds from both federal and state customers. Management revenue from federal customers increased $18.7 million, or 15.1%, from $123.5 million during the first quarter of 2006 to $142.2 million during the first quarter of 2007. Federal revenues were favorably impacted by new contracts from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") at our T. Don Hutto Residential Center, our Stewart Detention Center and our Eloy Detention Center. Management revenue from state customers increased $14.8 million, or 9.6%, from $154.0 million during the first quarter of 2006 to $168.7 million during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2007, state revenues were positively impacted by an increase in inmate populations from Colorado, Hawaii, Wyoming, California and Minnesota. As a result of the increases in federal and state inmate populations, portfolio occupancy increased from 93.7% during the first quarter of 2006 to 98.0% during the first quarter of 2007.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow, which does not include special items, increased 43.2% to $61.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007 from $43.0 million generated during the same period in 2006, as a result of the increase in operating income. Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 included minimal income tax payments. However, income tax payments for the remainder of 2007 are expected to total between $50.0 million and $60.0 million.

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the Supplemental Financial Information and related note following the financial statements herein for further discussion and reconciliations of these measures to GAAP financial measures.

Operations Highlights

For the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, key operating statistics for the continuing operations of CCA were as follows:

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2007 increased 11.5% to $350.9 million from $314.6 million during the same period in 2006, as total compensated man-days increased 7.6% to 6.4 million from 6.0 million, and as revenue per compensated man-day increased to $54.01 from $52.07, an increase of 3.7%. The increase in revenue per compensated man-day is substantially due to per diems obtained on new management contracts. Average compensated occupancy for the three months ended March 31, 2007 increased to 98.0% from 93.7% for the same period in 2006, also as a result of the commencement of new management contracts combined with an increase in the demand for prison beds from a number of existing customers.

Fixed expenses decreased $0.27 per compensated man-day to $28.55 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared with $28.82 per compensated man-day during the same period in 2006. The decrease in fixed expenses was primarily due to leveraging fixed costs over a higher inmate population.

Variable expenses also decreased to $9.49 per compensated man-day during the first quarter of 2007 from $9.74 per compensated man-day during the first quarter of 2006, a decrease of $0.25 per compensated man-day, or 2.6%. The decrease in variable expenses per compensated man-day was primarily attributable to a decrease in inmate medical expenses resulting from the increase in inmate populations under management contracts that contain provisions limiting our medical risk.

Business Development Update

On May 2, 2007, we were awarded a contract to house up to 2,160 inmates at our Diamondback Correctional Facility, in Watonga, Oklahoma by the Arizona Department of Corrections. The contract provides for an initial one-year term, and includes four additional one-year renewal periods. The contract also provides for a guaranteed 95% occupancy that becomes effective upon reaching 95% capacity following an agreed ramp-up period. We currently house approximately 1,400 Arizona inmates and approximately 650 Hawaiian inmates at this facility. We currently expect to relocate the Hawaiian inmates to our new 1,896-bed Saguaro Correctional Facility, in Eloy, Arizona, upon its completion in June 2007.

In April 2007, through a competitive procurement process we were selected for the continued management of the 1,030-bed Marion County Jail in Indianapolis, Indiana. CCA has managed the Marion County Jail since 1997. The facility currently holds approximately 1,000 inmates from Marion County, Indiana. The contract, which is effective May 1, 2007 through December 31, 2017, provides for a minimum guaranteed monthly average occupancy of 1,025 inmates and may be extended by mutual agreement for up to 10 years.

On March 29, 2007, as a result of anticipated demand for prison beds, we announced the second 360-bed expansion of our 1,104-bed Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in Tutwiler, Mississippi. The two expansions of the Tallahatchie facility aggregate 720 beds which we expect to complete for an estimated cost of $39.0 million. Also on March 29, 2007, we announced our intention to expand our 767-bed Leavenworth Detention Center, in Leavenworth Kansas, by 266 beds, at an estimated cost of $22.5 million. This expansion will also include a renovation of the existing building infrastructure to accommodate higher detainee populations.

Status of California Contract

On February 20, 2007, the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, ruled that the Governor of California exceeded his authority in issuing an emergency proclamation regarding prison overcrowding and that the contracts entered into by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") to utilize prison beds at private facilities outside of California to relieve prison overcrowding were thus unauthorized by the Emergency Services Act and that such contracts violate the California Constitution. A judgment based on that ruling was entered on April 2, 2007, including a permanent injunction against performing under the contracts signed pursuant to the proclamation, which would include contracts between us and the CDCR. The Governor and other state defendants have appealed that judgment. The Court of Appeal of California, Third Appellate District has temporarily stayed enforcement of this judgment, which means our contract with the CDCR remains in effect. We cannot predict the length of time this stay will remain in place or the ultimate outcome of the appeal.

On April 26, 2007, the California legislature passed the "The Public Safety and Offender Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007," which, among other things, expands California's prison capacity through new construction and authorizes the transfer of inmates out-of-state through June 2011 without the consent of affected inmates. The Governor of California has indicated that he will sign this legislation, and announced an intention to transfer up to 8,000 inmates out of state. This statute may provide the Governor additional authority to enter into contracts for out-of-state prison beds. Although we believe that the legislative findings within the statute further strengthen the Governor's original assertion of emergency authority and support the constitutionality of that action, we cannot guarantee that this statute will be persuasive to the Court of Appeal of California. If the Court of Appeal were to lift its stay of the Superior Court's judgment, then the injunction would result in the loss of inmates we currently house.

Regardless of the Court of Appeal's ruling, we cannot guarantee that the state of California will fully utilize the contracting authority created by this new statute, nor can we guarantee that this statute will not itself be challenged for violating the California Constitution or on other grounds.

We currently have a contract with the CDCR which provides the CDCR the ability to place California inmates in several of our facilities. As of March 31, 2007 we held 356 California inmates. However, the number of beds we make available to California is dependent on the demand for our available beds from existing and potential customers and the capacity available within the time frame desired by the state of California.

Facility Inventory and Development Update

Current Inventory

At April 30, 2007, CCA had available inventory of approximately 2,200 beds, which consists of approximately 1,900 owned and managed beds and 300 managed only beds. Most of these beds are contractually committed to existing customers; however, none of these contracts provide for guarantees of occupancy. We expect that a significant portion of these beds will be occupied over the next twelve months.

Facilities Currently Under Development or Expansion

In response to ongoing demand for bed capacity from a number of federal and state agencies, we have undertaken the following expansion and development projects:

In addition to the above listed projects, we are actively pursuing expansion opportunities as well as a number of additional sites for new prison development. Our goal is to begin development of an additional 3,400 to 5,400 new beds in 2007.

Commenting on the Company's financial results, President and CEO John Ferguson stated, "We are pleased with the Company's first quarter financial results and the continued improvement in our overall financial performance. Our revenues and operating margins continued to improve as a result of increased inmate populations both at the federal and state levels."

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with the Arizona Department of Corrections at our Diamondback Correctional Facility, and are gratified by their continued confidence in our ability to satisfy their correctional needs."

Ferguson continued, "The expansions that we are undertaking and the opening of our new Saguaro facility will create additional capacity that we can market over the next twelve months. We believe demand for new prison beds will continue over the foreseeable future, and one of our primary efforts going forward is adding beds that will allow us to serve this demand and to be a just-in-time provider to our government partners."

Guidance

The Company expects diluted earnings per share ("EPS") for the second quarter of 2007 to be in the range of $0.48 to $0.52, and full year EPS to be in the range of $1.97 to $2.07.

The guidance above does not incorporate the effect of any incremental inmates we may receive as a result of the Governor of California's recent announcement to transfer up to 8,000 inmates out of state. While we are optimistic that we will benefit from California's decision, management does not presently have adequate information to reasonably estimate the impact on 2007 operating results.

During 2007, CCA expects to invest approximately $275.5 million in capital expenditures, consisting of approximately $220.5 million in prison construction and expansions that have been previously announced, $37.0 million in maintenance capital expenditures and $18.0 million in information technology.

Supplemental Financial Information and Investor Presentations

CCA has made available on its website supplemental financial information and other data for the first quarter of 2007. We do not undertake any obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update any of the information disclosed in this report. Interested parties may access this information through our website at www.correctionscorp.com under "Financial Information" of the Investor section.

The Company's management may meet with investors from time to time during the second quarter of 2007. Written materials used in the investor presentations will also be available on our website beginning on or about May 15, 2007. Interested parties may access this information through our website at www.correctionscorp.com under "Webcasts" of the Investor section.

Webcast and Replay Information

We will host a webcast conference call at 2:00 p.m. Central Time (3:00 p.m. Eastern Time) today to discuss our 2007 first quarter financial results. To listen to this discussion, please access "Webcasts" on the Investor page at www.correctionscorp.com. The conference call will be archived on our website following the completion of the call. In addition, a telephonic replay will begin today at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 10, 2007, by dialing 888-203-1112, pass code 6514583.

About the Company

Corrections Corporation of America is the nation's largest owner and operator of privatized correctional and detention facilities and one of the largest prison operators in the United States, behind only the federal government and three states. We currently operate 64 facilities, including 40 company-owned facilities, with a total design capacity of approximately 73,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia. We specialize in owning, operating and managing prisons and other correctional facilities and providing inmate residential and prisoner transportation services for governmental agencies. In addition to providing the fundamental residential services relating to inmates, our facilities offer a variety of rehabilitation and educational programs, including basic education, religious services, life skills and employment training and substance abuse treatment. These services are intended to reduce recidivism and to prepare inmates for their successful re-entry into society upon their release. We also provide health care (including medical, dental and psychiatric services), food services and work and recreational programs.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements as to the Company's beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are forward-looking statements as defined within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties associated with: (i) fluctuations in our operating results because of, among other things, changes in occupancy levels, competition, increases in cost of operations, fluctuations in interest rates and risks of operations; (ii) changes in the privatization of the corrections and detention industry, the public acceptance of our services, the timing of the opening of and demand for new prison facilities and the commencement of new management contracts; (iii) our ability to obtain and maintain correctional facility management contracts, including as a result of sufficient governmental appropriations and as a result of inmate disturbances; (iv) increases in costs to construct or expand correctional facilities that exceed original estimates, or the inability to complete such projects on schedule as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond our control, such as weather, labor conditions and material shortages, resulting in increased construction costs; and (v) general economic and market conditions. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the filings made from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We take no responsibility for updating the information contained in this press release following the date hereof to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events or for any changes or modifications made to this press release.

Contact:
Karin Demler: (615) 263-3005