GEO’s stakeholders include our employees and Board members, government agency partners, regulators, accrediting organizations, faith-based organizations and NGOs, the individuals in our care, unions and labor organizations, communities where we operate, and investors and creditors.
Through regular meetings and discussions, webcasts and conference calls, as well as a steady flow of information provided in our reports, newsletters, and posted on our website, we strive to educate our stakeholders on our operations, governance practices, the regulatory environment in which we operate, and our overall commitment to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and respecting the human rights of all those in our care.
At the same time, we have been active participants in ongoing dialogues with many of our stakeholders and carefully consider their input and feedback as being critical to our focus on achieving operational excellence, having a positive impact on individuals and our society, and meeting the standards for
excellence in corporate citizenship.
We establish community advisory boards at all of our Secure Services facilities and a majority of our GEO Care locations, made up of representatives from local government, law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, local citizens, and others. These advisory boards meet on a regular basis to provide input on our operations and maintain strong local ties in our communities.
An area of emphasis for GEO involves working with key stakeholders to help the company understand different strategies of achieving human rights goals/assessing human rights topics in our U.S. Secure Services facilities, processing centers and community reentry programs.
GEO works with numerous vendors and suppliers of services and goods, and requires compliance with applicable laws. GEO also monitors our suppliers for anti-corruption practices. We expect suppliers to maintain the same standards as GEO has laid out in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and our newly established Vendor Code of Conduct.
GEO takes our responsibilities seriously and has formal due diligence processes to screen and monitor third parties, suppliers, and agents.
Our contracts with the federal government include specific targets for spending with businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, and disabled veterans. We develop plans to meet these targets for each federal contract and require all vendors to certify their classification. GEO tracks supplier spending in our vendor system and shares this data every six months with our federal government clients. This information is also reported to GEO’s Chief Financial Officer. GEO takes spending on diverse suppliers seriously, and in cases where spending is tracking below target, we develop and execute plans to meet established targets.
GEO is proud to work with local small businesses who provide many essential services to GEO facilities, such as roofing, HVAC maintenance, and painting. Where it is difficult to work with local suppliers, we have developed initiatives to help small businesses in our communities become more competitive with larger national suppliers.
On Tuesday February 18th, 2020, Blackwater River Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility held its annual Black History Program. Officer Yul Tunstall and Recreation Specialist Dominique Muhammad organized the program this year. Mr. Tunstall is from the Pensacola area and assists with many outreach programs to help local youth. He strives to give children positive avenues for support and donates time to bring awareness to street violence. Through his resources, BRCRF was able to have Roy Levesta Jones Jr. as our guest speaker.
On an annual basis, The GEO Group Foundation supports the Ride 4 Orphans event hosted by Spanish River Church in Boca Raton. The mission of Ride 4 Orphans is to bring light and hope to orphans all over the world. Whether an individual is a cycling aficionado or just a casual rider, they have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of orphans and children in foster care around the world and right here in our local Boca Raton community.
It was that time of the year again to collect Treats for the Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops for the Central Region. The collection was for our Active duty service members deployed and Veterans in and out of hospitals. Karnes County Detention Facility staff were challenged to collect candy for our 3rd Annual Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops. The total collected for Treats for Troops was 17,306 pieces of candy, which represents to 350 lbs.
Members of New Jersey Alumni Services and GEO Reentry Services staff were on hand to help the community with a Back-to-School event in Union County on August 15th. Staff gathered for the local ‘Backpacking and Potluck’ dinner. Hosted by Parents Engaging Parents (PEP), alumni members and staff joined various other community organizations, educational administrators and volunteers from cities in Union County to pack backpacks with school supplies. Alumni members were proud to participate in the community event which will equip thousands of children in the community with the supplies needed for a good start to the school year.
The Berks Community Action Program (BCAP) teamed up with ADAPPT (Alcohol & Drug Addiction Parole & Probation Treatment) reentrants on August 11th to share in a day of community service at the College Manor Pool. The site was offered to ADAPPT as a thank you for all the much needed work reentrants did at the pool over the summer. Everyone enjoyed the special event and sharing with those in need. The reentrants fed 107 homeless individuals from three different shelters. ADAPPT reentrants assisted in setting up the tables and stands, cooking, cleaning and serving. The staff and reentrants at the facility have a close relationship with the City and commit to a large amount of community service for local organizations.
On February 23rd, 2019, Team GEO at the Aurora ICE Processing Center did it again for the fifth year in a row winning the trophy for the Highest Fundraising team. Team GEO raised $7,710 for the Special Olympics of Colorado, led by Facility Administrator Choate as they raced from the frozen shore into the freezing water for the organization’s annual Polar Plunge event.