Lawyer Argues State Can Escape Prison Deal

The Advocate reports that a Washington, D.C.-based bond attorney, Richard Marks of Piper Rudnick, representing the State Juvenile Justice Commission (pro bono) has identified a potential for the state to avoid fulfillment of its contract with the privately owned juvenile prison in Tallulah. The state has already threatened to end its obligation under the contract, but changed its mind after Standard & Poor's threatened to lower the state's credit rating.

Marks believes that Standard & Poor's might be more understanding if the cooperative endeavor agreement was determined to be illegal. "Marks said the state cannot bring the matter to court, but attorney David Utter said a private resident or organization could do so."

Posted by AJR at April 24, 2003 10:14 AM