Yesterday came the news that The Geo Group and Cornell Companies are officially merging. Just terrific, now these private prison and detention facility operators can combine their evil powers to wreak more havoc on our communities and the rest of the world.

“The GEO Group (http://www.geogroup.com) is a world leader in the delivery of correctional, detention, and residential treatment services to federal, state, and local government agencies around the globe. GEO offers a turnkey approach that includes design, construction, financing, and operations. GEO represents government clients in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s worldwide operations include the management and/or ownership of 62 correctional and residential treatment facilities with a total design capacity of approximately 60,000 beds, including projects under development.”

“Cornell Companies, Inc. (http://www.cornellcompanies.com) is a leading private provider of corrections, treatment and educational services outsourced by federal, state and local governmental agencies. Cornell provides a diversified portfolio of services for adults and juveniles, including incarceration and detention, transition from incarceration, drug and alcohol treatment programs, behavioral rehabilitation and treatment, and grades 3-12 alternative education in an environment of dignity and respect, emphasizing community safety and rehabilitation in support of public policy. At December 31, 2009, the Company had 68 facilities in 15 states and the District of Columbia and a total service capacity of 21,392.”

Cornell does not even pretend that it isn’t working to reinforce the school to prison pipeline. It is right out there owning “alternative education” schools as well as detention center. I guess that they are just going to cut out the middle man.

Matt Miller recently published a blog post called Do Private Prisons Save Money? Miller was hopeful that because private prison companies are struggling financially and that they are not really cost-effective for local governments, that their days may be numbered. Well after merging with Cornell, something tells me the the Geo Group intends to be around for the long haul.