The GEO Group Comments on Ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Nwauzor Case

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) (“GEO” or the “Company”) commented today on a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in relation to the Nwauzor v. The GEO Group case (the “Nwauzor Case”).

GEO is currently reviewing today’s decision in the Nwauzor Case. GEO remains steadfast in its position that participants in the federally mandated Voluntary Work Program (VWP) at the Tacoma ICE Facility are not GEO employees. The United States Department of Justice supported GEO in requesting that the lower court judgment be reversed, stating that the application of the state minimum wage is precluded by principles of federal preemption and violates principles of intergovernmental immunity. Simply put, we believe the State of Washington has unconstitutionally violated the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. GEO strongly disagrees with this decision and will continue to vigorously pursue all available appeals of this ruling.

About The GEO Group

The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is a leading diversified government service provider, specializing in design, financing, development, and support services for secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s diversified services include enhanced in-custody rehabilitation and post-release support through the award-winning GEO Continuum of Care®, secure transportation, electronic monitoring, community-based programs, and correctional health and mental health care. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or delivery of support services for 99 facilities totaling approximately 80,000 beds, including idle facilities and projects under development, with a workforce of up to approximately 18,000 employees.

Use of forward-looking statements

This news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in GEO's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements and risk factors contained in GEO’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those referenced above. GEO disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.