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Corrections Corporation of America May Exclude the Proposal Under Rule 14A-8(I)(4)

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Corrections Corporation of America May Exclude the Proposal Under Rule 14A-8(I)(4) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-4561 DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE February 10,2012 Scott Craddock Corrections Corporation ofAmerica [email protected] Re: Corrections Corporation ofAmerica Incoming letter dated December 23,2011 Dear Mr. Craddock: This is in response to your letter dated December 23,2011 concerning the shareholder proposal submitted to Corrections Corporation ofAmerica by Alex Friedmann. We also have received a letter on behalf ofthe proponent dated January 17, 2012. Copies ofall ofthe correspondence on which this response is pased will be made available on our website at http://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfinlcf-noactionl14a-8.shtml. For your reference, a brief discussion ofthe Division's informal procedures regarding shareholder proposals is also available at the same website address. Sincerely, TedYu Senior Special Counsel Enclosure cc: Jeffrey S. Lowenthal Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP [email protected] February 10, 2012 Response of the Office of Chief Counsel Division of Corporation Finance Re: Corrections Corporation ofAmerica Incoming letter dated December 23,2011 The proposal requests that the board provide biannual reports to stockholders on its oversight ofthe company's efforts to reduce incidents ofrape and sexual abuse ofprisoners housed in facilities operated by the company, and to describe the board's oversight ofthe company's response to incidents ofrape and sexual abuse at those facilities, including statistical data by facility regarding all such incidents during each reporting period. We are unable to concur in your view that Corrections Corporation of America may exclude the proposal under rule 14a-8(i)(4). We are unable to conclude that the proposal relates to the redress of a personal claim or grievance against the company. We also are unable to conclude that the proposal is designed to result in a benefit to the proponent, or to further personal interest, which is not shared by the other shareholders at large. Accordingly, we donot believe that Corrections Corporation ofAmerica may omit the proposal from its proxy materials in reliance on rule 14a-8(i)(4). We are unable to conclude that Corrections Corporation ofAmerica has met its burden ofestablishing that it may exclude the proposal under rule 14a-8(i)(7) as a matter relating to the company's ordinary business operations. Accordingly, we do not believe that Corrections Corporation ofAmerica may omit the proposal from its proxy materials in reliance on rule 14a-8(i)(7). We are unable to concur in your view that Corrections Corporation ofAmerica may exclude the proposal under rule 14a-8(i)(10). Based on the information you have presented, it does not appear that Corrections Corporation ofAmerica's public disclosures compare favorably with the guidelines ofthe proposal. Accordingly, we do not believe that Corrections Corporation ofAmerica may omit the proposal from its proxy materials in reliance on rule 14a-8(i)(10). Sincerely, Joseph McCann Attomey-Adviser DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE INFORMAL PROCEDURES REGARDING SHAREHOLDER PRQPOSALS The Division ofCorporation Finance believes that its responsibility witll respect to matters arising under Rule 14a-8 [17 CFR 240. 14a-8], as with other matters under the proxy rules, is to aid those who must comply with the rule by offering informal advice and suggestions and to determine, initially, whether or not it may be appropriate in a particular matter to_ recommend enforcement action to the Commission. In connection with a shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8, the Division's staff considers the information furnished to it by the Company in support ofits intention to exclude the proposals from the Company's proxy materials, a" well as any information furnished by the proponent or the proponent's representative. .. Although Rule 14a-8(k) does not require any communications from shareholders to the Commission's staff, the staff will always consider information concerning alleged violations of the statutes administered by the Commission, including argument as to whether or notactivities proposed. to be taken would be violative ofthe statute or nile involved.. The receipt by the staff ofsuch information, however, should not be construed as changing the staffs informal procedures and proxy review into a formal or adversary procedure. It is important to note that the staffs and Commission's no-action responses to Rule 14a-8G) submissions reflect only informal views. The determinations reached in these no­ action letters do not and cannot adjudicate the merits of a company's position with respect to the proposal. Only a court such as a U.S. District Court can decide whether a company is obligated to include shareholder proposals in its proxy materials. Accordingly a discretionary . determination not to recommend or take Commission enforcement action, does not preclude a proponent, or any shareholder ofa company, from pursuing any rights he or she may have against the company in court, should the management omit the proposal from the company's proxy material. STROOCK By Email January 17, 2012 Jeffrey S. Lowenthal Direct Dial 212-806-5509 Direct Fax 212-806-2509 [email protected] U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance Office of Chief Counsel 100 F Street. N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: COlTections Corporation of America December 23, 2011, Letter Seeking to Exclude Alex Friedmann's Shareholder Proposal Ladies and Gentlemen: I am writing on behalf of Alex Friedmann (the "Proponent") in response to the request by COlTections Corporation of America (the "Company" or "CCA") to the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the "Staff") of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Conunission (the "Commission") seeking Staff concurrence with eCA's view that it may properly exclude a shareholder proposal and supporting statement (the "Proposal") submitted by the Proponent from inclusion in CCA's proxy materials to be distributed in connection with its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Proxy Materials"). We respectfully request that the Staff not concur with CCA's view that it may exclude the Proposal from its Proxy Materials, as eCA has failed to meet its burden of persuasion to demonstrate that it may properly omit the Proposal. A copy of this letter has also been sent to CCA. In accordance with Rule 14a-8(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "E.'{change Act") and Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14D (November 7, 2008) ("SLB 14D") we have submitted this letter to the Staff via electronic mail at [email protected] in addition to mailing paper copies. By letter dated December 23, 2011 (the "No-Action Request"), CCA requested that the Staff concur in its 'view that it may exclude the Proposal from its Proxy Materials on three grounds. First,. the Company seeks concurrence in its view that it may exclude the Proposal pursuant to Rule 14a- 8(i)(10) because the Proposal "has been substantially implemented by the Company." Secondly, the Company seeks concurrence in its view that the Proposal may be excluded pursl1ant to Rule 14a- NY 73745581v6 STROOCK lI: STROOCK &- LAVAN LLI' • NEW YORK' LOS ANGBLES • 1>11":111 J80 MAIDEN LANE, NEW YORK, NY 10038-4982 TEL 212.806.$400 FAX 212.806.6006 WWW.STROOCK.CO:l1 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission JanualY 17, 2012 Page 2 8 (i) (4) because the Proposal "relates to the redress of a personal claim or grievance against the Company." Lastly, CCA seeks concurrence that it may omit the Proposal because it "relates to the ordinary business operations of the Company." For the reasons set forth below, we submit that eCA has failed to meet its burden of persuasion under Rules 14a-8(i)(10), 14a-8(i)(4) or 14a-8(i){7) and thus cannot exclude the Proposal from inclusion in its Proxy Materials. I. The Proposal On November 28, 2011, Mr. Friedmann, a beneficial holder of no less than 190 shares of CCA's common stock, submitted a shareholder proposal to the Company pursuant to Rule 14a-8 addressing the response of the Board of Directors of CCA (the "Board") to incidents of rape and sexual abuse of prisoners housed in correctional facilities operated by the Company, which is the largest private prison operator in the United States. Specifically, the Proposal seeks to provide for bi-annual (twice­ a-year) reports to stockholders describing the Board's oversight of CCA's efforts to reduce incidents of rape and sexual abuse of prisoners at eCA facilities, with statistical data related to all such incidents that occurred at eeA facilities during each reporting period. The Proposal reads as follows: RESOLVED: TItat the stockholders of Corrections Corp. of America ("Company") request that the Board of Directors ("Board") report to the Company's stockholders on a bi-annual basis, beginning within ninety days after the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, excluding proprietary and personal infoffilation, on the Board's oversight of the Company's efforts to reduce incidents of rape and sexual abuse of prisoners housed in facilities operated by the Company. The reports should describe the Board's oversight of the Company's response to incidents of rape and sexual abuse at the Company's facilities, including statistical data by facility regarding all such incidents during each reporting period. The Proposal's supporting statement highlights the signjficant social policy iSSlle raised by the problem of prisoner sexual abuse and rape, and the important public policy goal of eliminating incidents of prisoner sexual abuse and rape. Furthermore, the supporting statement notes the continuing occurrence of prisoner sexual abuse and rape at the Company's facilities, thereby demonstrating the value of bi-annual reports by the Board detailing its oversight of efforts to reduce prisoner sexual abuse and rape that include, on a facility-by-facility basis, statistics detailing all such incidents during each reporting period.
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