Judge Orders Florida to Halt Bid Process for Prison Privatization

The state shouldnt have reopened the bidding process to convert 29 prison facilities from public to private hands, a circuit judge has ruled.

Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford declared that the bidding process should have remained suspended, as it had been since Sept. 30 when she ruled against Floridas proposal to privatize the correctional facilities.

"The Department of Corrections, its attorneys, agents and employees, are directed to cease and desist all actions relating to the procurement process on the prison privatization (bid requests), and shall forthwith refrain from taking any further action inconsistent wtih this court's final judgment," Fulford stated in a ruling released early Saturday.

More to come.