The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) has awarded the contract for the management of the Taft correctional institution, in Taft, California, to Wackenhut Corrections.

The decision to privatize the Taft correctional institution, as a 5 year "Demonstration Project" to evaluate the potential effectiveness of privatizing future FBOP facilities, was based on Congressional action. The FBOP will continually monitor the Taft correctional institution in order to ensure the public safety.

In September 1996, the FY 1997 Appropriations Act of the Department of Justice directed that the Taft correctional institution be privatized. The FBOP announced in October 1996 that a contract to operate the Taft correctional institution was being put up for bid (in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations). Construction of the facility is completed, and based on contract specifications, will be "Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated." The potential contract term for the operation of the Taft correctional institution is for 10 years, encompassing a 3 year base period and 7 one-year options.

The Taft correctional institution will include a 1,536-bed low security prison and a 512-bed minimum security camp that will help reduce crowding in the facilities of the FBOP's Western Region. Taft will begin receiving inmates in the next several months.