ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

CoreCivic, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "CoreCivic") is the nation's largest owner of partnership correctional, detention, and residential reentry facilities and one of the largest prison operators in the United States.  The Company also believes it is the largest private owner of real estate used by U.S. government agencies. Through three segments, CoreCivic Safety, CoreCivic Community, and CoreCivic Properties, the Company provides a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through corrections and detention management, a network of residential reentry centers to help address America's recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions.  As of December 31, 2020, through its CoreCivic Safety segment, the Company operated 47 correctional and detention facilities, 42 of which the Company owned, with a total design capacity of approximately 70,000 beds.  Through its CoreCivic Community segment, the Company owned and operated 27 residential reentry centers with a total design capacity of approximately 5,000 beds.  In addition, through its CoreCivic Properties segment, the Company owned 15 properties for lease to third parties and used by government agencies, totaling 2.7 million square feet.

In addition to providing fundamental residential services, CoreCivic's correctional, detention, and reentry facilities offer a variety of rehabilitation and educational programs, including basic education, faith-based services, life skills and employment training, and substance abuse treatment.  These services are intended to help reduce recidivism and to prepare offenders for their successful reentry into society upon their release.  CoreCivic also provides or makes available to offenders certain health care (including medical, dental, and mental health services), food services, and work and recreational programs.

CoreCivic has operated as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020.  As a REIT, the Company has provided services and conducted other business activities through taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs"). A TRS is a subsidiary of a REIT that is subject to applicable corporate income tax and certain qualification requirements. The Company's use of TRSs has permitted CoreCivic to engage in certain business activities in which the REIT may not engage directly, so long as these activities are conducted in entities that elect to be treated as TRSs under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and has enabled CoreCivic to, among other things, provide correctional services at facilities it owns and at facilities owned by its government partners.  A TRS is not subject to the distribution requirements applicable to REITs so it may retain income generated by its operations for reinvestment.  

On June 17, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors ("BOD") was evaluating corporate structure and capital allocation alternatives.  Concurrently, the BOD suspended the Company's quarterly dividend while it assessed how best to use its free cash flow to build shareholder value, maintain service excellence, and offer and implement unique solutions for its government partners and the communities in which it serves.  On August 5, 2020, the Company announced that the BOD concluded its analysis and unanimously approved a plan to revoke the Company's REIT election and become a taxable C Corporation, effective January 1, 2021.  As a result, the Company will no longer be required to operate under REIT rules, including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders, which will provide the Company with greater flexibility to use its free cash flow.  Beginning January 1, 2021, the Company will be subject to federal and state income taxes on its taxable income at applicable tax rates, and will no longer be entitled to a tax deduction for dividends paid.  The Company continued to operate as a REIT for the 2020 tax year, and existing REIT requirements and limitations, including those established by the Company’s organizational documents, remained in place until January 1, 2021. The BOD also voted unanimously to discontinue the Company's quarterly dividend and prioritize allocating the Company’s free cash flow to reduce debt.