This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. But it is subject to change as our understanding of the facts evolves.
CoreCivic, Inc. is one of the largest private prison and detention contractors in the United States. Its primary business is owning and operating for-profit correctional and detention facilities under contract with government agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The company's CoreCivic Safety division manages over 50 facilities, while its CoreCivic Community division oversees residential reentry centers. A significant portion of its operations involves immigrant detention, such as at its California City Immigration Processing Center under contract with ICE.
The company has faced significant legal and regulatory challenges related to its operations. In 2021, CoreCivic paid $56 million to settle a class-action securities lawsuit. Separate lawsuits, including one filed in 2022 by the parents of three deceased inmates, allege systemic failures in inmate safety and guard conduct. CoreCivic has also actively opposed legislation aimed at restricting its business model, successfully challenging New Jersey's ban on for-profit immigration detention in court in 2025. The company engages in political lobbying, including efforts highlighted in 2026 to secure financing from banks and advocating for policies that maintain demand for detention beds.
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Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
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