News Release

Nashville, Tenn., April 7, 2004 - Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) (NYSE: CXW), the nation's largest provider of corrections management services to government agencies, announced today that it has resumed operations at its Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.

CCA began receiving an inmate population this week from the U.S. Marshals Service. The Company expects to initially manage an estimated population of 300 federal prisoners from Northeastern United States federal court districts that are experiencing a lack of detention space and/or high detention costs.

"The re-opening of the 2,016-bed medium security Northeast Ohio Correctional Center represents the culmination of considerable efforts by political and community leaders and CCA. City, state and federal officials in Ohio have been instrumental in bringing about this opportunity, which creates economic vitality for Ohio and allows us to meet the growing needs of our current customers and a potential array of prospective Northeastern state customers" said John Ferguson, President and CEO. "We are obviously pleased to announce that CCA is re-opening the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center and we wish to recognize some of the many important Ohio leaders whose support has helped bring about this important re-opening of the Northeast Ohio facility, specifically Youngstown Mayor George McElvey, Mahoning County Commissioners Dave Ludt, Edward Reese and Vicki Allen Sherlock, and Sheriff Randall Wellington, as well as Congressman Tim Ryan."

The U.S. Marshals, along with other federal agencies and numerous states, have expressed interest in the Ohio facility as their bed capacity needs expand. CCA is currently pursuing a number of additional opportunities for the Northeast Ohio facility. CCA has hired and trained approximately 135 correctional employees at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, and as populations increase, that number will rise to nearly 400 employees should the facility be filled to capacity.

"While we certainly desire to operate the facility at full-capacity, we have determined that having a minimum population of 300-500 offenders with a staff of up to 150 correctional employees is economically viable for the company and meets immediate customer needs," said Ferguson.

The immediate effect of the facility re-opening and initial population of U.S. Marshals Service offenders is not expected to impact materially CCA's previously announced 2004 earnings per share guidance.

About CCA

CCA 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 four states. CCA currently operates 64 facilities, including 38 company-owned facilities, with a total design capacity of approximately 65,000 beds in 20 states and the District of Columbia. CCA specializes 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 CCA'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 and the timing of the opening of and demand for new prison facilities; (iii) increases in costs to 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 (iv) 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 CCA with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CCA takes 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 or the information contained herein by any third-parties, including, but not limited to, any wire or internet services.