Corporation's private prison in Kingman. Two
of the escapees are accused of murdering an Oklahoma couple who were
vacationing in New Mexico.

An Arizona Department of Corrections review of the Kingman facility
after the escape found numerous deficiencies with training and
equipment, including an alarm system that issued false alarms so
frequently that staff members began to ignore them.

The state suspended the bidding process after the escape and revised a
bid for 5,000 beds. That bid was canceled and a new request for up to
2,000 beds was issued after the prison population forecast changed. The
Legislature most recently authorized funding for 1,000 of the 2,000
beds.

Local debate

While the American Friends Service Committee and ACLU have adamantly
opposed the addition of private prison beds, many residents in
communities that may house the inmates have been very supportive, Ryan
said.

That was thecase earlier this month at a public hearing in Florence,
known as Arizona's prison capital for its state-operated and private
prisons.

Florence's mayor, town officials and the schools superintendent all
voiced support for more inmate beds, after they were told by GEO Group
that the company's proposal to build a new 1,000-bed prison would create
200 construction jobs, 260 jobs at the facility and a $12 million
annual payroll. The company, however, would not say how much the company
pays its guards.

"We are proud of our institutions, and proud to have a much-needed
service to the state," Florence Mayor Tom Rankin said during the
hearing. "It will create more jobs, and more jobs means more people will
shop here."

Rankin also took a shot at critics of the proposed prison, saying
they didn't live in his community and shouldn't try to