Corrections Corporation of America Announces Damon Hininger to Succeed John Ferguson as Chief Executive Officer

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwire - August 17, 2009) - Corrections Corporation of America (NYSE: CXW) (the "Company" or "CCA"), the nation's largest provider of corrections
management services to government agencies, announced today that John
Ferguson, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer will retire as
CEO effective October 15, 2009. Damon Hininger, who currently serves as
the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer, has been named to
succeed Mr. Ferguson as Chief Executive Officer and will also serve as a
director. Mr. Ferguson will remain as Chairman of the Company's Board of
Directors and as an active participant during the transition and in his
responsibilities with the Board of Directors.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I would like to thank
John for his invaluable service and leadership to our company over the last
nine years. John successfully led a turnaround of CCA, instituting
dramatic change in the Company's business structure and returning CCA to
profitability," said William Andrews, Chairman of the Executive Committee
of CCA's Board of Directors. "John has helped to establish a strong
business model that continues to successfully serve our customers,
stockholders and employees. We look forward to his continued work and
leadership as Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors."

Commenting on the transition, John Ferguson, CCA's Chairman of the Board
stated, "First let me express my gratitude to the Board and the
shareholders of CCA for allowing me to serve as President and CEO, and to
continue as Chairman of the Board. I look forward to working with the
other Board members to continue to build a strong and dynamic Board of
Directors that is committed to CCA's mission and vision. While at CCA I
faced many opportunities and challenges, but I always found it fulfilling
and rewarding. Although I will continue to be involved with CCA's Board
and expect to remain quite active during the transition, I look forward to
the next chapter of my life."

Mr. Ferguson added, "I would also like to congratulate Damon on his
achievement. Having started with CCA 17 years ago, Damon intimately knows
every aspect of CCA's business and is well equipped to build on CCA's
strategy and successfully lead CCA into the future. Damon epitomizes our
active approach to professional staff development and I am proud of his
accomplishments."

Mr. Hininger concluded, "I am honored and grateful for this opportunity and
look forward to serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of CCA. I
would like to thank the Board of Directors for the confidence they have
placed in me. I especially would like thank John, who has been a great
mentor to me. I look forward to working with John in his role as Chairman
and building on the strong foundation he established during his time as CEO
of the Company."

Mr. Hininger joined the Company in 1992 gaining exposure to essentially all
aspects of the business throughout his career. Most recently he served as,
President and Chief Operating Officer; Senior Vice President, Federal
Customer Relations; Vice President, Federal Customer Relations and Vice
President, Business Analysis. Mr. Hininger earned a bachelor's degree from
Kansas State University and an M.B.A. from the Jack Massey School of
Business at Belmont University.

About the Company

The Company 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. The Company currently operates 65 facilities, including 40
company-owned facilities, with a total design capacity of approximately
86,500 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia. The Company
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, the
Company's 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. The Company also provides 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 the Company's 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 the Company's services, the timing of the opening of and
demand for new prison facilities and the commencement of new management
contracts; (iii) the Company's 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 the
Company's 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.

The Company 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.