Geo Care Plans $37M Forensic Psychiatric Hospital

In July 2005, the Florida Department of Children and Families entered into a transition agreement with Geo Care to manage the existing center for six months. That agreement was renewed, and Geo Care assumed full operation of the facility this year. The renewed operations contract has a five-year term and is accompanied by a development contract for construction of the replacement facility. The department has completed the sale of tax-exempt bonds to finance construction.

The center is a maximum-security forensic psychiatric hospital. It provides care for patients referred by the criminal courts for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Geo Care will assume operation of the new facility, which is expected to reach completion in January 2008. During Geo's operations agreement, it will be leased to the state, which is expected to ultimately own the property.

George C. Zoley, chairman and CEO of Geo Group, says, "we are looking forward to the development of a new state-of-the-art forensic hospital," in a statement. A call to Geo Care was not returned by deadline.

Orlando-based SchenkelSchultz Architecture, which also has an office in West Palm Beach, will design the new center. Greeley, CO-based Hensel Phelps Construction Co. is the general contractor. In addition to living spaces, the facility will contain a medial clinic, indoor gymnasium and fitness room and outdoor recreational area.

Geo Care provides behavioral and other special needs services to state and local government agencies covering mental health, long-term care, geriatric, correctional and detention facilities. It is a subsidiary of Geo Group, also based on Boca Raton, which provides design, construction, financing and operations of government facilities in the US, Australia, South Africa and Canada. In all, it manages 58 facilities aggregating approximately 48,000 beds.