Document:

EXHIBIT 10.3

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                       NOTE AND EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                     between

                            CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.,

                        ITS SUBSIDIARIES SIGNATORY HERETO

                        AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD.

                                       and

              TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

                                  JULY 21, 2000

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           PAGE

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS........................................................1

      1.1   Certain Definitions..............................................1

      1.2   Accounting Principles...........................................15

      1.3   Other Definitional Provisions; Construction.....................16

ARTICLE 2 ISSUE AND SALE OF SECURITIES......................................16

      2.1   Authorization and Issuance of the Notes.........................16

      2.2   Authorization and Issuance of the Warrants......................16

      2.3   Sale and Purchase...............................................16

      2.4   The Closing.....................................................17

ARTICLE 3 REPAYMENT OF THE NOTES............................................17

      3.1   Principal and Interest..........................................17

      3.2   Optional Prepayment of Notes....................................17

      3.3   Notice of Optional Prepayment...................................18

      3.4   Mandatory Prepayment............................................18

      3.5   Home Office Payment.............................................18

      3.6   Taxes...........................................................19

      3.7   Maximum Lawful Rate.............................................19

ARTICLE 4 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..............................................20

      4.1   Conditions to Purchase of Securities............................20

ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE LOAN PARTIES................23

      5.1   Representations and Warranties of the Loan Parties..............23

      5.2   Absolute Reliance on the Representations and Warranties.........30

ARTICLE 6 TRANSFER OF NOTES.................................................30

      6.1   Restricted Securities...........................................30

      6.2   Legends; Purchasers' Representations............................30

      6.3   Transfer of Notes...............................................30

      6.4   Replacement of Lost Securities..................................31

      6.5   No Other Representations Affected...............................31

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ARTICLE 7 COVENANTS.........................................................31

      7.1   Affirmative Covenants...........................................31

      7.2   Negative Covenants..............................................35

      7.3   Financial Covenants.............................................41

ARTICLE 8 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.................................................43

      8.1   Events of Default...............................................43

      8.2   Consequences of Event of Default................................45

ARTICLE 9 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]...........................................46

ARTICLE 10 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]..........................................46

ARTICLE 11 REGISTRATION RIGHTS..............................................46

      11.1  Piggyback Registrations.........................................46

      11.2  Demand Registration Rights......................................47

      11.3  Holdback Agreements.............................................48

      11.4  Registration Procedures.........................................48

      11.5  Registration Expenses...........................................51

      11.6  Indemnification.................................................51

      11.7  Participation in Underwritten Registrations.....................52

      11.8  Other Rights....................................................52

ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS....................................................53

      12.1  Successors and Assigns..........................................53

      12.2  Modifications, Amendments or Waivers............................53

      12.3  No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required.......53

      12.4  Reimbursement of Expenses; Taxes................................53

      12.5  Holidays........................................................54

      12.6  Notices.........................................................54

      12.7  Survival........................................................55

      12.8  Governing Law...................................................55

      12.9  Jurisdiction, Consent to Service of Process.....................55

      12.10 Jury Trial Waiver...............................................56

      12.11 Severability....................................................56

      12.12 Headings........................................................56

      12.13 Indemnity.......................................................57

      12.14 Counterparts....................................................57

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      12.15 Integration.....................................................57

      12.16 The Company as Agent and Attorney-in-Fact.......................57

      12.17 Confidentiality.................................................57

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                       NOTE AND EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                    $40,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
                   SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 21, 2007
                           OF CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.

                           WARRANTS TO PURCHASE SHARES
                           OF CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.

      THIS NOTE AND EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
July 21, 2000, is among Cornell Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), its Subsidiaries listed on Annex B hereto (the "Subsidiaries" and
with the Company, the "Loan Parties"), AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD., a
Delaware corporation ("ACS") and TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICA, a New York corporation ("TIAA", together with ACS, "Purchasers" and
each a "Purchaser"). Capitalized terms used and not defined elsewhere in this
Agreement are defined in Article 1 hereof.

                                    RECITALS

      A. In order to refinance certain existing indebtedness and to provide the
Company with general working capital, the Loan Parties have proposed to sell to
Purchasers the notes to be issued pursuant to this Agreement which notes shall
be guaranteed by the Subsidiaries.

      B. In order to induce Purchasers to purchase the notes to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has agreed to issue and sell to
Purchasers, in connection with the purchase of such notes, purchase warrants
exercisable for shares of its Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the premises and
their mutual covenants and agreements herein set forth and intending to be
legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

                                   DEFINITIONS

      1.1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. In addition to other words and terms defined
elsewhere in this Agreement, the following words and terms have the meanings set
forth below (and such meanings shall be equally applicable to both the singular
and plural form of the terms defined, as the context may require):

      "ACS" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

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      "Affiliate" means with respect to any Person, any other Person which is
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with
such Person or entity or any of its Subsidiaries, and the term "control"
(including the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with") means
having, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) no
individual shall be an Affiliate solely by reason of his or her being a
director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b)
none of the wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company shall be Affiliates, and
(c) neither Purchaser nor any of their Affiliates shall be an Affiliate of the
Company.

      "Agreement" means this Note and Equity Purchase Agreement, as the same may
be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Asset Disposition" means, excluding Municipal Transactions, any sale,
transfer, lease or other disposition of any asset of any Loan Party other than
(i) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any sale,
transfer, lease or other disposition by the Company to any wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition
by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to any wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) sales of obsolete or worn-out Property, tools or
equipment not used or useful in its business, (v) sales, transfers, leases or
other dispositions the proceeds of which are (A) reinvested (or commitments for
reinvestment are made) by the Company, its Subsidiaries or the entity completing
such transaction in similar assets within 550 days of the completion of such
sale, transfer, lease or other disposition or (B) used to make prepayments of
the Senior Debt, the Senior Notes or the Notes, in accordance with the Credit
Documents or this Agreement, respectively and (vi) other dispositions so long as
the fair market value disposed of in any calendar year does not exceed $500,000.

      "Board of Directors" means the board of directors, board of managers or
similar governing body of a Person.

      "Business" means the business of the Loan Parties as such is planned and
intended to be conducted as of the date hereof and following any acquisitions
permitted hereby.

      "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
which banking institutions in Texas are authorized or required by law to close.

      "Bylaws" means the bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement or
similar governing instrument of a Person, including all amendments and
supplements thereto.

      "Capital Expenditures" shall mean, for any Measurement Period,
expenditures (including, without limitation, the aggregate amount of Capital
Lease Obligations incurred during such period) made by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to acquire or construct fixed assets, plant, furniture, fixtures
and equipment (including renewals, improvements and replacements thereof, but
excluding repairs made in the ordinary course of business) during such period
computed in accordance with GAAP.

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      "Capital Lease Obligations" shall mean, for any Person, all obligations of
such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement
conveying the rights to use) Property to the extent such obligations are
required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance
sheet of such Person under GAAP, and for purpose of this Agreement, the amount
of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined in
accordance with GAAP.

      "Casualty Event" shall mean, with respect to any Property of any Person,
any loss of or damage to, or any condemnation or other taking of, such Property
for which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries receives insurance proceeds, or
proceeds of a condemnation award or other compensation.

      "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (42 U.S.C.ss. 9604, et seq.), as amended, and rules, regulations,
standards guidelines and publications issued thereunder.

      "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:

            (a) if any person (as such term is used in section 13(d) and section
      14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act as in effect on the date of the
      Closing) or related persons constituting a group (as such term is used in
      Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act) become the "beneficial
      owners" (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
      Act as in effect on the date of the Closing), directly or indirectly, of
      more than forty percent (40%) of the issued and outstanding Common Stock
      or the total voting power of the Company; or

            (b) the failure of Initial Directors to constitute a majority of the
      Board of Directors of the Company.

      "Charter Documents" means the limited liability certificate, articles of
incorporation, certificate of incorporation, charter or similar instrument of a
Person, as applicable, including all amendments and supplements thereto.

      "Closing" means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement.

      "Closing Date" means the date and time for delivery and payment of the
Securities as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

      "Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.001 par value.

      "Company" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

      "Controlled Group" means the "controlled group of corporations" as that
term is defined in Section 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, of which the Loan Parties are a part from time to time.

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      "Correctional and Detention Facility Contract" shall mean any contract
with a municipal, state or federal government, or agency, instrumentality or
political subdivision thereof, relating to the management by the Company or its
Subsidiaries of a correctional and/or detention facility or to other related
lines of business, as amended or modified from time to time.

       "Credit Documents" means collectively (a) that certain Fourth Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement (the "CREDIT AGREEMENT") dated as of July 21, 2000 by
and among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries signatory thereto, Atlantic
Financial Group, Ltd., the other lenders signatory thereto ("SENIOR LENDERS"),
ING (U.S.) Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as agent for the
Senior Lenders, (b) that certain Amended and Restated Master Agreement (the
"MASTER AGREEMENT") dated as of July 21, 2000 by and among the Company, certain
Subsidiaries of the Company signatory thereto, Atlantic Financial Group, Ltd.,
certain financial institutions signatory thereto as lenders and ING (U.S.)
Capital LLC, as administrative agent, (c) that certain Note Purchase Agreement
(the "Senior Note Agreement") dated as of July 15, 1998 by and among the Company
and each of the purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto, and (d) the other
agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with the Credit
Agreement, Master Agreement and the Senior Note Agreement.

      "Debt Service" shall mean, for any Measurement Period, the sum, for the
Company and its Subsidiaries, other than any Designated Subsidiaries (determined
on a consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the
following: (a) all payments of principal of Indebtedness (including, without
limitation, the principal component of any payments in respect of Capital Lease
Obligations) scheduled to be made during such Measurement Period PLUS (b) all
Interest Expense for such Measurement Period.

      "Default" means any event or condition that, but for the giving of notice
or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

      "Direct Competitor" means a Person that is not a Loan Party who is engaged
in the business of operating correctional, and/or detention facilities, juvenile
facilities, pre-release facilities or substance abuse rehabilitation facilities
or related lines of business in which a Loan Party is engaged.

      "EBITDAR" means, for any Measurement Period, the sum of the following for
the Company and its Subsidiaries, (determined without duplication in accordance
with GAAP):

            (a) net income for such Measurement Period, LESS extraordinary gains
      for such Measurement Period to the extent included in net income for such
      Measurement Period, PLUS

            (b)   Interest Expense for such Measurement Period, PLUS

            (c) provisions for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes
      (other than taxes on extraordinary gains), whether paid or deferred, made
      during such Measurement Period, to the extent deducted in determining net
      income for such Measurement Period, PLUS

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            (d) the aggregate amount of depreciation and amortization expense
      for such Measurement Period, to the extent deducted in determining net
      income for such Measurement Period, PLUS

            (e) the aggregate amount of (i) accretion expense with respect to
      options or rights to acquire the Company's common stock and (ii) any
      write-off of expenses arising in connection with the Notes, in each case
      to the extent deducted in determining net income for such Measurement
      Period, PLUS

            (f) the net income of any Person that is accounted for by the equity
      method of accounting, but only to the extent of dividends paid to the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries, PLUS

            (g) the aggregate amount of non-cash expense for such Measurement
      Period associated with the closure and post-closure reserves of a plant or
      facility owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, PLUS

            (h) the aggregate amount of all other non-cash expenses for such
      Measurement Period to the extent not specifically described above in this
      definition; PLUS

            (i) the aggregate amount of Rent Expense for such Measurement
      Period; PLUS

            (j) the aggregate amount of Pre-opening Expenses and Start-up
      Expenses for such Measurement Period;

            PROVIDED, that with respect to:

                  (i) any Eligible Acquisition made during such Measurement
            Period, "EBITDAR" shall include the actual EBITDAR attributable to
            the business acquired in such Eligible Acquisition for the 12 month
            period ending on the last day of such Measurement Period, including,
            if necessary, EBITDAR prior to consummation of such Eligible
            Acquisition so that it represents the equivalent of twelve (12)
            months of EBITDAR (and may reflect Pro Forma Adjustments); and

                  (ii) any Eligible New Contract entered into by the Company or
            any of its Subsidiaries during such Measurement Period, "EBITDAR"
            shall include the following:

                        (x)   if the Company or such Subsidiary has provided
                              services pursuant to such Eligible New Contract
                              for less than three calendar months after the end
                              of the Start-up Period, an amount equal to the
                              estimated "EBITDAR" attributable to the operations
                              resulting from such Eligible New Contract (and may
                              reflect Pro Forma Adjustments) for the 12-month
                              period beginning on the date on which the Company
                              or such Subsidiary began providing services
                              pursuant to such Eligible New Contract, or

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                        (y)   if the Company or such Subsidiary has provided
                              services pursuant to such Eligible New Contract
                              for three calendar months or more after the end of
                              the Start-up Period, an amount equal to actual
                              EBITDAR attributable to the operations resulting
                              from such Eligible New Contract for each complete
                              month that has elapsed since the date three months
                              after the end of the Start-up Period (such amount
                              to be annualized so that it represents the
                              equivalent of 12 months of EBITDAR).

      "EBITDAR Ratio I" shall mean, at any date, the ratio of the following:

            (a) all Senior Debt on such date (other than the B Guarantee), to

            (b) EBITDAR for the period of 12 consecutive months ending on or
      most recently ended prior to such date.

      "EBITDAR Ratio II" shall mean, at any date, the ratio of the following:

            (a) all Indebtedness of the Loan Parties on such date to

            (b) EBITDAR for the period of 12 consecutive months ending on or
      most recently ended prior to such date.

      "Eligible Acquisition" shall mean any acquisition by any Loan Party
(regardless of the structure of the transaction) of the capital stock of, or all
or substantially all of the assets of, any Person (or of a line of business or
business segment of any Person), that was, immediately prior to such
acquisition, engaged primarily in the business of operating correctional and/or
detention facilities, juvenile facilities, pre-release facilities, substance
abuse rehabilitation facilities or related lines of business, PROVIDED THAT an
acquisition will only be an Eligible Acquisition if: (i) consented to by the
Purchasers (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) if the
consideration to be paid for such Eligible Acquisition will exceed $20,000,000;
(ii) such Loan Party provides to the Purchasers evidence to the satisfaction of
the Purchasers that the EBITDAR of the business to be acquired in such Eligible
Acquisition (based on actual results with Pro Forma Adjustments) for the period
of 12 consecutive months most recently preceding the proposed date of such
Eligible Acquisition is greater than $1; and (iii) such Loan Party provides to
the Purchasers evidence to the satisfaction of the Purchasers that the
consideration to be paid for such Eligible Acquisition (including any
Indebtedness assumed) will not exceed the product of (x) EBITDAR with respect to
the business to be acquired in such Eligible Acquisition (based on actual
results with Pro Forma Adjustments) for the 12 month period ending on the
proposed date of consummation of such Eligible Acquisition and (y) six.

      "Eligible New Contract" shall mean any acquired (or to be acquired)
Correctional and Detention Facility Contract, a newly executed Correctional and
Detention Facility Contract, an amendment to an existing Correctional and
Detention Facility Contract or an expansion under an existing Correctional and
Detention Facility Contract.

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      "Environmental Claim" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any written
or oral notice, claim, demand or other communication (collectively, a "CLAIM")
by any other Person alleging or asserting such Person's liability for
investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, damages to
natural resources or other Property, personal injuries, fines or penalties
arising out of, based on or resulting from (i) the presence, or Release into the
environment, of any Hazardous Material at any location, whether or not owned by
such Person, or (ii) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or
alleged violation, of any Environmental Law. The term "Environmental Claim"
shall include, without limitation, any claim by any governmental authority for
enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages
pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and any claim by any third party
seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or
injunctive relief resulting from the presence of Hazardous Materials or arising
from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment.

      "Environmental Laws" shall mean any and all applicable, currently
published and enforceable Federal, state, local and foreign laws, codes, rules
or regulations, and any orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions binding upon
the Loan Parties, relating to the regulation or protection of human health,
worker safety and protection or the environment or to emissions, discharges,
releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or
outdoor environment, including, without limitation, ambient air, soil, surface
water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata, or otherwise relating
to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.

      "Equity Issuance" shall mean (a) any issuance or sale by any Loan Party
after the date hereof of (i) any capital stock, (ii) any warrants or options
exercisable in respect of capital stock (other than any warrants or options
issued to directors, officers or employees of any Loan Party pursuant to the
Management Option Plan and any capital stock of the Company issued upon the
exercise of such warrants or options or (iii) any other security or instrument
representing an equity interest (or the right to obtain any equity interest) in
any Loan Party or (b) the receipt by any Loan Party after the date hereof of any
capital contribution (whether or not evidenced by any equity security issued by
the recipient of such contribution); PROVIDED that Equity Issuance shall not
include (A) any such issuance or sale by any Subsidiary of the Company to the
Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, or (B) any capital
contribution by the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company to any
Subsidiary of the Company.

      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the
same may from time to time be amended, and the rules and regulations of any
governmental agency or authority, as from time to time in effect, promulgated
thereunder.

      "Event of Bankruptcy" means any of (a) the filing by a Person of a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy under any provision of any bankruptcy law or a
petition to take advantage of any insolvency act, (b) the admission in writing
by the Company of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due,
(c) the appointment of a receiver or receivers for all or a material part of a
Person's assets with the consent of such Person, (d) the filing of any
bankruptcy, arrangement or reorganization petition by or, with the consent of a
Person, against such Person under any provision of any bankruptcy law, (e) a
receiver, liquidator or trustee of a Person or a substantial part of its assets
shall be appointed pursuant to the federal bankruptcy code,

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insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, by the order of a
court of competent jurisdiction which shall not be dismissed or stayed within
sixty (60) days, or (f) an involuntary petition to reorganize or liquidate a
Person pursuant to the federal bankruptcy code, insolvency or other similar law
now or hereafter in effect, shall be filed against such Person and shall not be
dismissed or stayed within sixty (60) days.

      "Event of Default" means any of the events of default described in Section
8.1 hereof.

      "Fiscal Year" or "fiscal year" means each twelve-month period ending on
December 31 of each year.

      "Fixed Charges Ratio" shall mean, for any Measurement Period, the ratio
of: (a) the sum of (i) EBITDAR for the period of 12-consecutive months ending on
or most recently ended prior to such Measurement Period, MINUS (ii) Capital
Expenditures made by the Company and its Subsidiaries during such Measurement
Period to the extent not financed with the proceeds of the Senior Debt, MINUS
(iii) taxes paid in cash during such Measurement Period, TO (b)Debt Service for
such Measurement Period.

      "Future Synthetic Lease Financing" shall mean one or more Synthetic Lease
Transactions entered into after the date of this Agreement.

      "GAAP" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.2 hereof.

      "Governmental Authorities" means any federal, state or municipal court or
other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or
instrumentality, governmental or quasi-governmental, domestic or foreign.

      "Guarantee" shall mean a guarantee, an endorsement, a contingent agreement
to purchase or to furnish funds for the payment or maintenance of, or otherwise
to be become contingently liable under or with respect to, the Indebtedness,
other obligations, net worth, working capital or earnings of any Person, or a
guarantee of the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the stock or
equity interests of any Person, or an agreement to purchase, sell or lease (as
lessee or lessor) Property, products, materials, supplies or services primarily
for the purpose of enabling a debtor to make payment of such debtor's
obligations or an agreement to assure a creditor against loss, and including,
without limitation, causing a bank or other financial institution to issue a
letter of credit or other similar instrument for the benefit of another Person,
but excluding endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business. The terms "GUARANTEE" and "GUARANTEED" used as a verb shall have a
correlative meaning.

      "Guarantee Agreement" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.1(f)(xii) hereof.

      "Hazardous Material" shall mean, collectively, (a) any petroleum or
petroleum products, flammable materials, explosives, radioactive materials,
asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and polychlorinated biphenyls
("PCB'S") and (b) any chemicals or other materials or substances that are
defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous substances", "hazardous
wastes", "hazardous materials", "extremely hazardous wastes", "restricted
hazardous wastes", "toxic substances", "toxic pollutants", or any similar
denomination intended to classify

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substances by reason of toxicity, carcinogenicity, ignitability, corrosivity or
reactivity; but shall not include naturally occurring materials existing in
background conditions.

      "Impermissible Qualification" shall mean any qualification, exception or
other statement in any opinion or certification of any independent public
accounts which either (a) is of a "going concern" or similar nature; or (b)
relates to the limited scope of examination of matters relevant to the financial
statements referred to in such opinion or certification not customarily
contained in a report of independent certified public accountants.

      "Indebtedness" shall mean, for any Person: (a) obligations created, issued
or incurred by such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan, the issuance and
sale of debt securities or the sale of Property to another Person subject to an
understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such Property
from such Person; (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or
acquisition price of Property or services, other than trade accounts payable
(other than for borrowed money) arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the
ordinary course of business so long as such trade accounts payable are payable
within 90 days of the date the respective goods are delivered or the respective
services are rendered; (c) Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on the
Property of such Person, whether or not the respective Indebtedness so secured
has been assumed by such Person; (d) obligations of such Person in respect of
letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other
financial institutions for account of such Person; (e) Capital Lease Obligations
of such Person and in the case of the Company, the assumed principal component
of the lease obligations under the FF&E Lease (net of the amount of the
unamortized gain under the FF&E Lease); (f) Indebtedness of others Guaranteed by
such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, the Synthetic Lease Loans and the B
Loans, together with the principal components of each Future Synthetic Lease
Financing shall constitute "Indebtedness".

      "Initial Director" means (i) a member of the board of directors of the
Company as of the Closing Date and (ii) a member of the board of directors of
the Company nominated by the vote of at least sixty percent (60%) of the members
of the board of directors of the Company as of the Closing Date.

      "Interest Coverage Ratio" shall mean, for any Measurement Period, the
ratio of (a) EBITDAR for the period of 12 consecutive months ending on or most
recently ended prior to such Measurement Period to (b) Interest Expense for such
Measurement Period.

      "Interest Expense" shall mean, for any Measurement Period, the sum, for
the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis without
duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following: (a) all interest in
respect of Indebtedness (including, without limitation, the interest component
of any payments in respect of Capital Lease Obligations) accrued or capitalized
during such Measurement Period (whether or not actually paid during such
Measurement Period), PLUS (b) the net amount payable (or MINUS the net amount
receivable) under the Interest Rate Protection Agreements during such
Measurement Period (whether or not actually paid or received during such
Measurement Period), MINUS (c) direct reimbursements received by an Loan Party
during such Measurement Period by a party to a Correctional and Detention
Facility Agreement, to the extent that such reimbursements relate to interest
expense of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, PLUS (d) the interest
component of any payments in

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respect of the 1998 Synthetic Lease Financing and any Future Synthetic Lease
Financing accrued or capitalized during such Measurement Period (whether or not
actually paid during such Measurement Period).

      "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" shall mean, for any Person, an
interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement or similar arrangement between such
Person and one or more financial institutions providing for the transfer or
mitigation of interest risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

       "Investment" as applied to any Person means the amount paid or agreed to
be paid or loaned, advanced or contributed to other Persons, and in any event
shall include (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition of any
notes, obligations, instruments, stock, securities or ownership interest
(including partnership interests and joint venture interests) and (ii) any
capital contribution to any other Person.

      "Laws" means all U.S. and foreign federal, state or local statutes, laws,
rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, policies, rules of common law, and the
like, now or hereafter in effect, including any judicial or administrative
interpretations thereof, and any judicial or administrative orders, consents,
decrees or judgments.

      "Lien" means any security interest, pledge, bailment, mortgage,
hypothecation, deed of trust, conditional sales and title retention agreement
(including any lease, other than an operating lease, in the nature thereof),
charge, encumbrance or other similar arrangement or interest in real or personal
property, now owned or hereafter acquired, whether such interest is based on
common law, statute or contract.

      "Management Option Plan" means an option, stock appreciation rights or
similar long term incentive plan approved by the Company's board of directors,
or a committee thereof, that will provide for the issuance of options to
purchase Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents.

      "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the business,
properties, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Loan Parties, taken as a whole.

      "Measurement Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.3
hereof.

      "Measurement Period" means, as of a particular date, the shorter of (i)
the period since the Closing Date and (ii) the twelve months ending on such
date, unless specifically stated otherwise in a particular provision of this
Agreement.

      "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan (within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA) that is maintained for the benefit of the employees of
the Loan Parties or any member of the Controlled Group.

       "Municipal Transaction" shall mean a transaction:

            (a) in which the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries
      transfers one or more correctional and/or detention facilities (a
      "Transferred Facility") to a Person that is

                                       10
<PAGE>
      not a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company and that is created
      exclusively for purposes of consummating such transaction (an "SPV") for a
      consideration consisting of cash (a "Municipal Transaction Transfer");

            (b) in which such SPV incurs Indebtedness; and

            (c) in which the Company and such SPV enter into a management
      agreement, lease or similar arrangement pursuant to which the Company
      agrees to manage or lease-back such Transferred Facility; provided that:

                  (i) the Company shall have  furnished to Purchasers  copies of
            all of the documentation for such transaction; and

                  (ii) Purchasers shall have approved such transaction, which
            approval shall not be unreasonably withheld (PROVIDED that
            Purchasers shall not condition their approval on the payment of a
            fee). Purchasers agree that Purchasers shall consent to any such
            Municipal Transaction if, as reasonably determined by Purchasers,
            the net cash flows related to the property subject to the Municipal
            Transaction during the remaining term of the Notes is not more than
            twenty percent (20%) greater than the scheduled principal and
            interest payments on the Company's Senior Debt during the remaining
            term of the Notes would be if the Municipal Transaction had not
            taken place.

            "Net Available Proceeds" shall mean:

             (i) in the case of any Asset Disposition or any Municipal
      Transaction Transfer, the amount of Net Cash Payments received in
      connection with such Asset Disposition or such Municipal Transaction
      Transfer;

             (ii) in the case of any Casualty Event, the aggregate amount of
      proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards and other compensation received
      by the Loan Parties in respect of such Casualty Event net of (A)
      reasonable expenses incurred by the Loan Parties in connection therewith
      and (B) contractually required repayments of Indebtedness and any income
      and transfer taxes payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
      respect of such Casualty Event;

             (iii) in the case of any incurrence of Indebtedness, the aggregate
      amount of all cash received by the Loan Parties in respect of such
      incurrence net of fees and expenses incurred by Loan Parties in connection
      therewith; and

             (iv) in the case of any Equity Issuance, the aggregate amount of
      all cash received by the Loan Parties in respect of such Equity Issuance
      net of fees and expenses incurred by the Loan Parties in connection
      therewith.

       "Net Cash Payments" shall mean, with respect to any Asset Disposition or
 any Municipal Transaction Transfer, the aggregate amount of all cash payments,
 and the fair market value of any non-cash consideration, received by the Loan
 Parties directly or indirectly in connection with such Asset Disposition or any
 Municipal Transaction Transfer; PROVIDED that

                                       11
<PAGE>
(a) Net Cash Payments shall be net of (i) the amount of any legal, title and
recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses paid by the Loan
Parties in connection with such Asset Disposition or such Municipal Transaction
Transfer, (ii) any federal, state, local and foreign taxes estimated to be
payable by the Loan Parties as a result of such Asset Disposition or such
Municipal Transaction Transfer (but only to the extent that such estimated taxes
are in fact paid to the relevant federal, state or local governmental authority
within three months of the date of such Asset Disposition or such Municipal
Transaction Transfer) and (iii) any required deposits or hold backs (until such
time as such required deposit or hold back is released), (b) Net Cash Payments
shall be net of any repayments by any Loan Party of Indebtedness to the extent
that (i) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the Property that is the
subject of such Asset Disposition or such Municipal Transaction Transfer and
(ii) the transferee of (or holder of a Lien on) such Property requires that such
Indebtedness be repaid as a condition to the purchase of such Property and (c)
Net Cash Payments shall exclude the amount of any reasonable reserves
established by any Loan Party, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities
retained by such Loan Party, which liabilities are associated with the Property
that is the subject of such Asset Disposition or such Municipal Transaction
Transfer (but only during such period as such reserves are actually maintained),
including (without limitation) any indemnification obligations, pension and
other post-employment benefit liabilities, workers' compensation liabilities,
liabilities associated with retiree benefits, liabilities relating to
environmental matters and liabilities relating to any Guarantee of Indebtedness
secured by a Lien on such Property.

       "Net Worth" shall mean, for any Measurement Period for any Person, the
 sum for such Person and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis
 without duplication in accordance with GAAP), of the following: (a) the amount
 of capital stock; PLUS (b) the amount of surplus and retained earnings (or, in
 the case of a surplus or retained earnings deficit, MINUS the amount of such
 deficit); PLUS (c) any warrant accretion expense (as that term is used in GAAP)
 or any original issue discount accretion expense (as such term is used in GAAP)
 arising after the Closing Date; PLUS (d) the value ascribed to any warrants
 issued to a Senior Lender and the cumulative effect of any change in the
 valuation of such warrants; PROVIDED that any predecessor basis adjustment
 required under GAAP shall be disregarded in calculating "Net Worth."

       "1994 Shares" means those shares of the Common Stock that are held by
 Persons which have demand or piggyback registration rights pursuant to that
 certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company, David Cornell,
 and the other parties signatory thereto, dated as of March 31, 1994, as
 amended.

       "1998 Synthetic Lease Financing" shall mean the Synthetic Lease Financing
 as amended and restated of even date, in which (a) the A Lenders (as that term
 is defined in the definitions of "Synthetic Lease Financing" in the Credit
 Documents) are the Synthetic Lease Lenders thereunder, and (b) the B Guarantee
 and the C Investment (as those terms are defined in the definition of
 "Synthetic Lease Financing" in the Credit Documents) are not secured by the
 Collateral for the Senior Debt.

       "1999 Shares" means those shares of Common Stock held by Persons who have
 demand or piggyback registration rights pursuant to that certain Registration
 Rights Agreement by and

                                       12
<PAGE>
between the Company and the Investors (as defined therein) signatory thereto,
dated as of October 14, 1999.

      "Note Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the
Guarantee Agreement and such other agreements executed in connection with the
transactions contemplated therein.

      "Notes" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.

      "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant
to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA, or any other governmental agency, department
or instrumentality succeeding to the functions thereof.

      "Permitted Liens" has the meanings assigned to such term Section 7.2(b)
hereof.

      "Person" means any individual, partnership, limited partnership,
corporation, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust,
joint venture, unincorporated organization or governmental entity or department,
agency or political subdivision thereof.

      "Plan" means any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3)
of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, established or maintained by the
Loan Parties or any member of the Controlled Group.

       "Preferred Stock" means the Company's preferred stock, $.001 par value.

      "Pre-opening Expenses" shall mean operating expenses attributable to the
operations of an Eligible New Contract (including, but not limited to, salaries
and wages, fringe benefits, training costs, supplies, and professional fees)
incurred prior to the date on which the Company began providing services
pursuant to such Eligible New Contract, but only to the extent that such
expenses have been reviewed and approved by the Purchasers and are determined in
accordance with GAAP.

      "Pro Forma Adjustments" shall mean reasonable adjustments for (a)
non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, (b) operating efficiencies, (c) census
levels and (d) per diem rates that have been reviewed and consented to by the
Purchasers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

       "Properties and Facilities" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 5.1(r).

      "Property" shall mean any right or interest in or to property of any kind
whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible.

       "Purchaser and Purchasers" have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the preamble hereto and in Section 6.2 hereof. With respect to any right or
action to be taken by the Purchasers under this Agreement, the term Purchasers
means Purchasers representing a majority in interest of the principal amount of
the Notes.

                                       13
<PAGE>
      "RCRA" means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C.ss. 6901
ET SEQ.), as amended, and all rules, regulations, standards, guidelines, and
publications issued thereunder.

      "Registrable Securities" means any Common Stock purchased upon the
exercise of any Warrant.

      "Release" shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping,
injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into
the indoor or outdoor environment, including, without limitation, the movement
of Hazardous Materials through ambient air, soil, surface water, ground water,
wetlands, land or subsurface strata.

       "Rent Expense" shall mean, for any Measurement Period:

      (a) the aggregate amount of rent payments made by the Loan Parties during
such period in respect of any Synthetic Lease Financing, as defined in the
Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, the 1998 Synthetic Lease
Financing; and

      (b) the aggregate amount of rent payments made minus the amount of
amortized gain by the Loan Parties during such period in respect of that certain
Lease Agreement dated as of November 23, 1999 (as modified and supplemented and
in effect from time to time, the "FF&E Lease") among the Company and certain of
its Subsidiaries, as Lessees, and First Security Bank, National Association, as
Owner Trustee, as Lessor, and in respect of any other transaction entered into
by the Loan Parties that is a lease of furniture, fixtures and equipment.

For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that any other rent payments
(including rent payments in respect of any Municipal Transaction) shall not
constitute "Rent Expense" for purposes of this Agreement.

      "Reportable Event" means any of the events that are reportable under
Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder, other than an
occurrence for which the thirty (30) day notice contained in 29 C.F.R. ss.
2615.3(a) is waived.

      "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any governmental
body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

      "Securities" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.3 hereof.

      "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

      "Securities Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

      "Senior Debt" means all Indebtedness in connection with the Senior RLOC,
the Senior Synthetic Loans and the Senior Notes and any other Indebtedness that
is not subordinated to the payment of other Indebtedness; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that (i) the maximum amount of such Indebtedness shall only increase after the
Closing Date if the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness does not violate
Sections 9.10, 9.11, 9.12, 9.13, 9.14 and 9.15 of the Credit Agreement as of the
date hereof without giving effect to any amendments, modifications or
restatements thereof and (ii) such Indebtedness must be permitted under the
Senior RLOC.

                                       14
<PAGE>
      "Senior Notes" means those certain 7.74% Senior Secured Notes of the
Company due July 15, 2010.

      "Senior RLOC" means a secured revolving line of credit facility extended
to the Loan Parties and agented by ING (U.S.) Capital LLC pursuant to the Credit
Documents, and any replacement or refinancing thereof.

      "Senior Synthetic Loans" means: (i) the Synthetic Lease Financing, as
defined in the Credit Documents, (ii) 1998 Synthetic Lease Financing, as defined
in the Credit Documents, and (iii) all Future Synthetic Lease Financing, as
defined in the Credit Documents.

      "Start-up Expenses" shall mean operating expenses attributable to the
operations of an Eligible New Contract incurred during the Start-up Period
therefor, net of the revenues recognized under such Eligible New Contract during
the Start-up Period, but only to the extent that such expenses have been
reviewed and approved by the Purchasers.

      "Start-up Period" shall mean, with respect to any Eligible New Contract,
the period of time, not to exceed six months, commencing on the date the Company
began providing service pursuant to such Eligible New Contract until the last
day of the month in which 90% of the maximum occupancy under such Eligible New
Contract was reached and are determined in accordance with GAAP

      "Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or
other ownership interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions of such corporation, partnership or other entity (irrespective of
whether or not at the time securities or other ownership interests of any other
class or classes of such corporation, partnership or other entity shall have or
might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the
time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of
such Person.

       "Taxes" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.6 hereof.

       "UST" means an underground storage tank, including as that term is
defined, construed and otherwise used in RCRA and in rules, regulations,
standards, guidelines and publications issued pursuant to RCRA and comparable
state and local laws.

      "Warrants" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2 hereof.

      "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, partnership or other entity of which all of the equity securities
or other ownership interests (other than, in the case of a corporation,
directors' qualifying shares) are directly or indirectly owned or controlled by
such Person or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such
Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

      1.2 ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. The character or amount of any asset,
liability, capital account or reserve and of any item of income or expense to be
determined, and any consolidation

                                       15
<PAGE>
or other accounting computation to be made, and the construction of any
definition containing a financial term, pursuant to this Agreement shall be
determined or made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America consistently applied ("GAAP"), unless such
principles are inconsistent with the express requirements of this Agreement.

      1.3 OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS; CONSTRUCTION. Whenever the context so
requires, neuter gender includes the masculine and feminine, the singular number
includes the plural and vice versa. The words "hereof" "herein" and "hereunder"
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not in any particular provision of this agreement, and
references to section, article, annex, schedule, exhibit and like references are
references to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. A Default or Event of
Default shall "continue" or be "continuing" until such Default or Event of
Default has been cured or waived in writing by each Purchaser. References in
this Agreement to any Persons shall include such Persons, successors and
permitted assigns. Other terms contained in this Agreement (that are not
otherwise specifically defined herein) shall have meanings provided in Article 9
of the Texas Uniform Commercial Code on the date hereof to the extent the same
are used or defined therein.

                                   ARTICLE 2

                          ISSUE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

      2.1 AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES. The Loan Parties have duly
authorized the issuance and sale to Purchasers of $40,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount of the Loan Parties' Senior Subordinated Notes Due July 21,
2007 (the "Notes," including any Notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant
to Sections 6.3 and 6.4 hereof) to be substantially in the form of the note
attached hereto as Exhibit A. At the Closing, $30,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes shall be purchased by ACS and $10,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount shall be purchased by TIAA.

      2.2 AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF THE WARRANTS. The Company has duly
authorized the issuance and sale to Purchasers of Warrants substantially in the
form of the warrant attached hereto as Exhibit B (collectively, the "Warrants"
and individually, a "Warrant") evidencing ACS' right to acquire 217,778 shares
of Common Stock, representing 2.2125% of the issued Common Stock and TIAA's
right to acquire 72,592 shares of Common Stock representing .7375% of the issued
Common Stock totaling 2.95% of the issued Common Stock, each on a fully diluted
basis at the time of Closing.

      2.3 SALE AND PURCHASE. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance
upon the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein, the Loan
Parties shall sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser shall purchase from the
Loan Parties, (a) the Notes in the aggregate principal amount set forth in
Section 2.1 hereof for $40,000,000 in the aggregate and (b) the Warrants for
$100 in the aggregate. (The Warrants and the Notes are sometimes referred to
herein collectively as the "Securities.")

                                       16
<PAGE>
      2.4 THE CLOSING. Delivery of and payment for the Securities (the
"Closing") shall be made at the offices of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, 3400 Chase
Tower, 600 Travis Street, Houston, Texas 77002 commencing at 10:00 a.m., local
time, on July 6, 2000, or at such other place or on such other date on or before
July 31, 2000, as may be mutually agreeable to the Loan Parties and Purchasers.
The date and time of the Closing as finally determined pursuant to this Section
2.4 are referred to herein as the "Closing Date." Delivery of the Securities
shall be made to each Purchaser against payment of the purchase price therefor,
less any other amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.1(g) hereof, in federal
funds by check or draft payable to or upon the order of the Loan Parties, or by
wire transfer of immediately available funds in the manner agreed to by the Loan
Parties and each Purchaser. The Securities shall be issued in such name or names
and in such permitted denomination or denominations as set forth in Annex A or
as each Purchaser may request in writing not less than two (2) Business Days
before the Closing Date.

                                   ARTICLE 3

                             REPAYMENT OF THE NOTES

      3.1 PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. The Company covenants and agrees to make
payments on the Notes on the first Business Day of each September, December,
March and June, commencing on September 1, 2000, during the term of the Notes,
equal to accrued interest in arrears computed at a fixed annual rate equal to
12.875%. Interest will be computed on the basis of a year with 360 days,
composed of twelve 30-day months, and the actual number of days elapsed. The
principal balance of the Notes and all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due
and payable in full on July 21, 2007.

      3.2 OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT OF NOTES. Subject to the terms of this Section
3.2, the Loan Parties may prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Notes
in whole or in part at any time at a price equal to (1) the accrued interest, if
any, to the date set for prepayment, plus (2) 100% of the principal amount
prepaid, plus (3) a prepayment fee representing the amortization of certain of
Purchasers' costs incurred in connection with the purchase of the Notes equal to
the principal amount prepaid multiplied by the following percentage:

              IF PREPAID DURING
             THE 12 MONTH PERIOD
              ENDING ON JUNE 30
            OF THE FOLLOWING YEARS:         PERCENTAGE
            -----------------------         ----------
                   2001                        3%
                   2002                        2%
                   2003                        1%
                Thereafter                     0%

Any prepayment must be in integer multiples of $1,000,000 (or such lesser
principal amount then outstanding under all of the Notes). All prepayments to
the Purchasers shall be allocated to ACS and TIAA in percentages in accordance
with the aggregate principal amount of the Notes each Purchaser holds.

                                       17
<PAGE>
      3.3 NOTICE OF OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT. If the Loan Parties shall elect to
prepay any Notes pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof, the Loan Parties shall give
notice of such prepayment to each holder of the Notes to be prepaid not less
than thirty (30) days or more than ninety (90) days prior to the date fixed for
prepayment, specifying (a) the date on which such prepayment is to be made, (b)
the principal amount of such Notes to be prepaid on such date, and (c) the
premium, if any, and accrued interest applicable to the prepayment. Such notice
shall be accompanied by a certificate of the president or the vice president and
of the treasurer of the Company that such prepayment is being made in compliance
with Section 3.2. Notice of prepayment having been so given, the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes specified in such notice, together with accrued
interest thereon and the premium, if any, shall become due and payable on the
prepayment date set forth in such notice.

      3.4 MANDATORY PREPAYMENT. The Notes shall be prepaid in full, together
with all interest, fees and expenses plus a prepayment fee computed in
accordance with Section 3.2, as if such prepayment were a voluntary prepayment,
in the event of the following occurrences:

            (a) a Change of Control; or

            (b) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or
      share exchange in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior
      to such transaction receive, in exchange for securities of the Company
      owned by them, cash, property or securities of the resulting or surviving
      entity and as a result thereof Persons who were holders of equity
      securities and Underlying Common Stock hold less than 50% of the voting
      securities, calculated on a fully diluted basis, of the resulting Persons
      entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or similar
      functions.

      3.5 HOME OFFICE PAYMENT. So long as any of the Purchasers or their
successors and assigns shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement or such Note to the contrary, the Loan
Parties will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal, premium, if
any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose
below the holder's name in Annex A, or by such other method or at such other
address as the holder shall have from time to time specified to the Loan Parties
in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note
or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the
Loan Parties made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or
prepayment in full of any Note, the holder shall surrender such Note for
cancellation, reasonably promptly after such request, to the Loan Parties at
their principal executive office.

      3.6 TAXES. Any and all payments by the Loan Parties hereunder or under the
Notes or other Note Documents that are made to or for the benefit of Purchasers
shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or
future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings and
penalties, interests and all other liabilities with respect thereto
(collectively, "Taxes"), excluding, taxes imposed on each Purchaser's net income
or capital and franchise taxes imposed on it by the jurisdiction under the laws
of which it is organized or qualified to do business or doing business or any
political subdivision thereof (all such

                                       18
<PAGE>
nonexcluded Taxes being hereinafter referred to as "Covered Taxes"). If the Loan
Parties shall be required by law to deduct any Covered Taxes from or in respect
of any sum payable hereunder or under any Notes or other Note Document to or for
the benefit of each Purchaser, the sum payable shall be increased as may be
necessary so that after making all required deductions of Covered Taxes
(including deductions of Covered Taxes applicable to additional sums payable
under this paragraph), such Purchaser receives an amount equal to the sum it
would have received had no such deductions been made. The Loan Parties shall
make such deductions and the Loan Parties shall pay the full amount so deducted
to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with
applicable law. In addition, the Loan Parties agree to pay any present or future
stamp, documentary, excise, privilege, intangible or similar levies that arise
at any time or from time to time from any payment made under any and all Note
Documents or from the execution or delivery by the Loan Parties or from the
filing or recording or maintenance of, or otherwise with respect to the exercise
by each Purchaser of its rights under any and all Note Documents (collectively,
"Other Taxes"). The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, will indemnify
Purchaser for the full amount of Covered Taxes imposed on or with respect to
amounts payable hereunder and Other Taxes, and any liability (including
penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.
Payment of this indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the
date each Purchaser provides the Loan Parties with a certificate certifying and
setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation thereof as to the amount and
type of such Taxes. Any such certificates submitted by each Purchaser in good
faith to the Loan Parties shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and
binding on all parties. The obligation of the Loan Parties under this Section
3.6 shall survive the payment of the Notes and the termination of this
Agreement. Within thirty (30) days after the Loan Parties having received a
receipt for payment of Covered Taxes and/or Other Taxes, the Loan Parties shall
furnish to each Purchaser, the original or certified copy of a receipt
evidencing payment thereof.

      3.7 MAXIMUM LAWFUL RATE. This Agreement, the Notes and the other Note
Documents are hereby limited by this Section 3.7. In no event, whether by reason
of acceleration of the maturity of the amounts due hereunder or otherwise, shall
interest and fees contracted for, charged, received, paid or agreed to be paid
to Purchaser for the use, forbearance or detention of money exceed the maximum
amount permissible under such applicable law. If, from any circumstance
whatsoever, interest and fees would otherwise be payable to each Purchaser in
excess of the maximum amount permissible under such applicable law, the interest
and fees shall be reduced to the maximum amount permitted under applicable law.
If from any circumstance, each Purchaser shall have received anything of value
deemed interest by applicable law in excess of the maximum lawful amount, an
amount equal to any excess of interest shall be applied to the reduction of the
principal amount of the Notes, in such manner as may be determined by such
Purchaser, and not to the payment of fees or interest, or if such excessive
interest exceeds the unpaid balance of the principal amount of the Notes, such
excess shall be refunded to the Loan Parties. All sums paid or agreed to be paid
to the holder of the Notes for the use, forbearance or detention of the loans
evidenced by the Notes shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be
amortized, prorated, allocated and spread in equal parts throughout the full
term of this Agreement, so that the interest rate is uniform throughout the full
term of this Agreement.

                                       19
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE 4

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

      4.1 CONDITIONS TO PURCHASE OF SECURITIES. The obligation of each Purchaser
to purchase and pay for the Securities is subject to the satisfaction, prior to
or at the Closing, of the following conditions precedent:

            (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES TRUE. The representations and
      warranties contained in Article 5 hereof shall be true and correct in all
      material respects at and as of the Closing Date as though then made,
      except to the extent of changes caused by the transactions expressly
      contemplated herein.

            (b) MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. There will have been no fact which
      causes a Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 1999.

            (c) LIEN SEARCHES. Each Purchaser shall have received reports of
      filings with appropriate government agencies showing that there are no
      Liens on the assets of the Loan Parties other than Permitted Liens.

            (d) SENIOR DEBT. (i) The Senior RLOC shall be in place on terms
      reasonably satisfactory to each Purchaser; there shall be not less than
      $60,000,000 of borrowing availability thereunder; (ii) the Senior
      Synthetic Loans shall be in place (iii) the Senior Notes shall be in
      place; and (iv) each lender under the Senior RLOC and the Senior Synthetic
      Loans (other than the Senior Notes) and the Purchasers shall have entered
      into a Subordination Agreement on terms reasonably satisfactory to the
      Purchasers.

            (e) EQUITY. The Company shall have no less than $97,000,000 of
      equity at the Closing Date.

            (f) CLOSING DOCUMENTS. The Loan Parties will have delivered or
      caused to be delivered to each Purchaser all of the following documents in
      form and substance satisfactory to each Purchaser:

                (i) Notes (as designated by each Purchaser pursuant to Section
            2.1 hereof) in aggregate original principal amounts as set forth
            herein, duly completed and executed by the Loan Parties;

                (ii) one or more Warrants (as designated by each Purchaser
            pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof) evidencing the right to acquire the
            number of Common Stock set forth in Section 2.2 hereof, subject to
            adjustment from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof;

                (iii) certificates of good standing for each of the Loan Parties
            issued by its state of organization and each jurisdiction where it
            is qualified to do business as a foreign business entity;

                                       20
<PAGE>
                (iv) copies of the Charter Documents of each of the Loan
            Parties, certified by the appropriate governmental official of the
            jurisdiction of its organization;

                (v) copies of the Bylaws of each of the Loan Parties, certified
            as of the Closing Date by the secretary, assistant secretary or
            other comparable officer of the respective Loan Parties;

                (vi) certificates of the secretaries, the assistant secretaries
            or other comparable officers of each of the Loan Parties, certifying
            as to the names and true signatures of the officers of the
            respective Loan Parties authorized to sign this Agreement and the
            other documents to be delivered by each of the Loan Parties
            hereunder;

                (vii) copies of the respective resolutions duly adopted by each
            of the Loan Parties' Board of Directors authorizing the execution,
            delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and
            each of the other agreements, instruments and documents contemplated
            hereby to which the Loan Parties are a party, certified as of the
            Closing Date by the secretaries or assistant secretaries or other
            comparable officers of the Loan Parties;

                (viii) certificates dated as of the Closing Date from an officer
            of each of the Loan Parties stating that the conditions specified in
            this Section 4.1 have been fully satisfied by or on behalf of the
            Loan Parties or waived by each Purchaser;

                (ix) certificates of insurance evidencing the existence of all
            insurance required to be maintained by each of the Loan Parties
            pursuant to Section 7.1(c);

                (x) an opinion of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, counsel to the Loan
            Parties, in form and substance satisfactory to each Purchaser;

                (xi) payoff letters and related documents from ING (U.S.)
            Capital LLC in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each
            Purchaser, providing for the repayment in full of all amounts owing
            by the Loan Parties under the Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement
            dated October 14, 1999 to such entities with the proceeds of the
            purchase and sale of the Securities;

                (xii) guaranties, in form and substance acceptable to the
            Purchasers, in their sole discretion, executed by all of the
            Subsidiaries of the Company (the "Guarantee Agreement"); and

                (xiii) such other documents relating to the transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement as each Purchaser or its special
            counsel may reasonably request.

            (g) PURCHASERS' FEES AND EXPENSES.

                (i) FEES. On the Closing Date, the Loan Parties shall pay the
            amount of $600,000 to ACS and $325,000 to TIAA (and the Loan Parties
            hereby

                                       21
<PAGE>
            authorize each Purchaser to deduct from the aggregate proceeds from
            the sale of the Notes by the Loan Parties, the unpaid amount of such
            fees); and

                (ii) OTHER FEES AND EXPENSES. On the Closing Date, the Loan
            Parties shall have paid the reasonable fees and expenses of each
            Purchaser, payable by the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 12.4
            hereof (and the Loan Parties hereby authorize each Purchaser to
            deduct from the aggregate proceeds of the sale of the Notes by the
            Loan Parties, all such amounts).

            (h) LEGAL INVESTMENT. On the Closing Date, each Purchaser's purchase
      of the Securities shall not be prohibited by any applicable law, rule or
      regulation of any governmental authority (including, without limitation,
      Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
      System) as a result of the promulgation or enactment thereof or any
      changes therein, or change in the interpretation thereof by any
      governmental authority, in each case subsequent to the date of this
      Agreement.

            (i) PROCEEDINGS. All proceedings taken or required to be taken in
      connection with the transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated at
      or prior to the Closing and all documents incident thereto will be
      satisfactory in form and substance to each Purchaser and its special
      counsel.

            (j) WAIVER. Any condition specified in this Section 4.1 may be
      waived by each Purchaser; provided that no such waiver will be effective
      against Purchaser unless it is set forth in a writing executed by each
      Purchaser.

            (k) WORKING CAPITAL. The Company shall have no less than $22,000,000
      of working capital at the Closing Date, as calculated without giving
      effect to that certain Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement dated as of
      October 14, 1999.

                                   ARTICLE 5

               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE LOAN PARTIES

      5.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE LOAN PARTIES. As a material
inducement to each Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Notes
and the Warrants, the Loan Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to each Purchaser as follows:

            (a) ORGANIZATION AND POWER. Each of the Loan Parties (i) is a
      corporation or, in the case of Cornell Corrections of Georgia, L.P. and
      The Cornell Cox Group, L.P., a limited partnership, duly organized,
      validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective
      state of incorporation or organization as indicated on the Corporate
      Schedule, (ii) has all requisite corporate, partnership or other
      organizational power and authority and all material governmental licenses,
      permits, approvals and authorizations necessary to own and operate its
      properties, to carry on its businesses as now conducted and presently
      proposed to be conducted and (iii) is qualified to do business in the
      jurisdictions shown on the Corporate Schedule, which constitute every
      jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes
      such qualification necessary and

                                       22
<PAGE>
      where failure so to qualify could reasonably be expected to (either
      individually or in the aggregate) have a Material Adverse Effect. The
      copies of the organizational documents of the Loan Parties that have been
      furnished to each Purchaser reflect all amendments made thereto at any
      time on or prior to the date of this Agreement and are correct and
      complete in all material respects.

            (b) PRINCIPAL BUSINESS. The Loan Parties are primarily engaged in
      the business of operating correctional, and/or detention facilities,
      juvenile facilities, pre-release facilities and substance abuse
      rehabilitation facilities, and related lines of business.

            (c) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS.

                (i) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has delivered to each
            Purchaser copies of the Company's audited consolidated year-end
            financial statements for and as of the end of the fiscal years ended
            December 31, 1999 (the "Annual Statements"). The Annual Statements
            (A) were compiled from the books and records maintained by the
            Company's management, (B) are correct and complete and fairly
            represent the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of
            their dates and the results of operations for the fiscal periods
            then ended, (C) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
            consistently applied and (D) were audited by Arthur Andersen LLP.

                (ii) FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS. The Company has delivered to each
            Purchaser financial projections of the Company, on a consolidated
            basis, for the period 2000 through 2005 derived from various
            assumptions of the Company's management (the "Financial
            Projections"). The Financial Projections represent a reasonable
            range of possible results in light of the history of the business,
            present conditions and the present intentions of the Company's
            management. The Financial Projections accurately reflect the
            liabilities of the Loan Parties upon consummation of the
            transactions contemplated hereby as of the Closing Date.

                (iii) BALANCE SHEET. The Company has delivered to each Purchaser
            a balance sheet, on a consolidated basis, as of May 31, 2000 (the
            "Balance Sheet"). The Balance Sheet was compiled from the books and
            records maintained by the Company, is correct and complete and
            fairly represents the consolidated financial condition of the
            Company as of its date and the results of the fiscal periods then
            ended and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
            applied, subject to normal year end audit adjustments.

                (iv) ACCURACY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Loan Parties do not
            have any material liabilities, contingent or otherwise, or forward
            or long-term commitments, in each case, of a type to be reflected in
            a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP that are not
            disclosed in the Annual Statements or in the notes thereto, and
            except as disclosed therein there are no anticipated losses from any
            commitments of the Loan Parties which may cause a Material Adverse
            Effect.

                                       23
<PAGE>
            (d) CAPITALIZATION AND RELATED MATTERS. As of the Closing Date and
      immediately thereafter, the authorized capitalization of the Company will
      consist of 30,000,000 shares of Common Stock of which 9,464,013 shares are
      issued and outstanding and of which 290,370 shares have been reserved for
      issuance upon exercise of the Warrants and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
      Stock of which no shares are issued and outstanding. As of the Closing
      Date, the capitalization and ownership of the outstanding equity
      securities of each of the other Loan Parties is as shown on the Corporate
      Schedule. Immediately following the Closing, none of the Loan Parties will
      have outstanding any stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for
      any of its equity securities other than the Warrants, will not have
      outstanding any rights or options to subscribe for or to purchase its
      capital stock or any stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable
      for its capital securities, other than the Warrants, the Management Option
      Plans and as otherwise set forth on the Corporate Schedule. As of the
      Closing Date, the Loan Parties will not be subject to any obligation
      (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any
      of its equity securities, except as set forth herein. As of the Closing,
      all of the Loan Parties' outstanding capital securities will be validly
      issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

            (e) There are no statutory or contractual stockholders' preemptive
      rights with respect to the issuance of the Warrants hereunder. The Company
      has not violated any applicable federal or state securities laws in
      connection with the offer, sale or issuance of any of its capital stock,
      and the offer, sale and issuance of the Securities hereunder do not
      require registration under the Securities Act or any applicable state
      securities laws. There are no agreements among the Company's stockholders
      with respect to the voting or transfer of the Company's capital securities
      other than as contemplated herein.

            (f) SUBSIDIARIES. The Loan Parties do not own, or hold any rights to
      acquire, any shares of stock or any other security or interest in any
      other Person other than the ownership as shown on the Corporate Schedule.

            (g) AUTHORIZATION; NO BREACH. The execution, delivery and
      performance of this Agreement, the other Note Documents and all other
      agreements contemplated hereby and thereby to which any of the Loan
      Parties is a party has been duly authorized by each of the Loan Parties.
      The Note Documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered by
      the Loan Parties and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
      each of the Loan Parties, enforceable in accordance with their respective
      terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (1) bankruptcy,
      insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general
      applicability affecting enforcement of creditors' rights and (2) the
      application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
      enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The
      execution and delivery by each of the Loan Parties of the Note Documents
      do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms,
      conditions or provisions of, (ii) constitute a default under, (iii) except
      as permitted hereunder, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
      Loan Parties' capital stock or assets pursuant to, (iv) give any third
      party the right to accelerate any obligation under, (v) result in a
      violation of, or (vi) require any authorization, consent, approval,
      exemption or other action by or notice to any Governmental Authority
      pursuant to, the Charter Documents or Bylaws of any of the

                                       24
<PAGE>
      Loan Parties, or any law, statute, rule or regulation to which any of the
      Loan Parties are subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
      decree to which any of the Loan Parties are a party or to which it or its
      assets are subject.

            (h) GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. Except as specifically provided by the
      Note Documents, no registration with or consent or approval of, or other
      action by, any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection
      with the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Note
      Documents by any of the Loan Parties.

            (i) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since February 25, 2000, there has
      been no event or occurrence that is likely to have a Material Adverse
      Effect.

            (j) LITIGATION. Except as described in the "Litigation Schedule,"
      there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or
      before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the
      best knowledge of the Company, threatened against or filed by or affecting
      any of the Loan Parties that, if adversely determined, could be reasonably
      expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company shall promptly
      provide each Purchaser with a copy of all pleadings of all lawsuits filed
      against others and, in the case of other actions, a letter stating the
      nature of such suits and a copy of all pleadings, in each case, if the
      actions meet the disclosure requirements of the preceding sentence.

            (k) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. None of the Loan Parties is in violation
      in any material respect of any applicable Law if such violation could
      reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Loan
      Parties is in default with respect to any final, non-appealable judgment,
      writ, injunction, decree, rule or regulation of any Governmental
      Authorities if such default could reasonably be expected to have a
      Material Adverse Effect.

            (l) [Intentionally Omitted]

            (m) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Each Loan Party has obtained all
      environmental, health and safety permits, licenses and other
      authorizations required under all applicable Environmental Laws to carry
      on its business as now being or as currently proposed to be conducted,
      except to the extent failure to have any such permit, license or
      authorization would not (either individually or in the aggregate) have a
      Material Adverse Effect. Each of such permits, licenses and authorizations
      is in full force and effect and each of the Loan Parties is in compliance
      with the terms and conditions thereof, and is also in compliance with all
      other limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions,
      requirements, obligations, schedules and timetables contained in any
      applicable Environmental Law, except to the extent failure to comply
      therewith would not (either individually or in the aggregate) have a
      Material Adverse Effect.

            In addition, except as set forth in the "Environmental Schedule"
      hereto:

                (i) No notice, notification, demand, request for information,
            citation, summons or order has been issued to any Loan Party or
            about which any Loan Party has otherwise become aware, no complaint
            has been filed against any Loan

                                       25
<PAGE>
            Party or about which any Loan Party has otherwise become aware, no
            penalty has been assessed against any Loan Party or about which any
            Loan Party has otherwise become aware and no investigation or review
            is pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened by any
            governmental authority or other entity with respect to any alleged
            failure by any Loan Party to have any environmental, health or
            safety permit, license or other authorization required under any
            Environmental Law in connection with the conduct of the business of
            any Loan Party or with respect to any generation, treatment,
            storage, recycling, transportation, discharge or disposal, or any
            Release of any Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party,
            which has either not been resolved to the satisfaction of the
            issuing authority or which would not individually or in the
            aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (ii) None of the Loan Parties owns, operates or leases a
            treatment, storage or disposal facility requiring a permit under the
            Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, or under
            any comparable state or local statute; and (A) no PCBs (as defined
            in the definition of Hazardous Materials) are or have been present
            at any site or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased
            by any Loan Party; (B) no asbestos or asbestos-containing materials
            that are friable or bear a reasonable chance of becoming friable are
            or have been present at any site or facility now or previously
            owned, operated or leased by any Loan Party; (C) there are no USTs
            for Hazardous Materials, active or abandoned, at any site or
            facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by any Loan
            Party that are not in material compliance with all applicable
            Environmental Laws, and there are no surface impoundments for
            Hazardous Materials, active or abandoned at any site or facility now
            or previously owned, operated or leased by any Loan Party; (D) no
            Hazardous Materials have been Released at, on or under any site or
            facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by any Loan
            Party in a reportable quantity established by any applicable
            Environmental Law; and (E) no Hazardous Materials have been
            otherwise Released at, on or under any site or facility now or
            previously owned, operated or leased by any Loan Party that would
            (either individually or in the aggregate) have a Material Adverse
            Effect.

                (iii) None of the Loan Parties has transported or arranged for
            the transportation of any Hazardous Material to any location that is
            listed on the National Priorities List ("NPL") under the
            Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
            of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), listed for possible inclusion on the
            NPL by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Comprehensive
            Environmental Response and Liability Information System, as provided
            for by 40 C.F.R. ss. 300.5 ("CERCLIS"), or on any similar state or
            local list or that is the subject of Federal, state or local
            enforcement actions or other investigations that may lead to
            Environmental Claims against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
            which individually or in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse
            Effect.

                                       26
<PAGE>
                (iv) No Hazardous Material generated by any Loan Parties has
            been recycled, treated, stored, disposed of or Released by any Loan
            Party at any facility which is subject to an Environmental Claim
            which would reasonably be expected individually or in the aggregate
            to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (v) No oral or written notification of a Release of a Hazardous
            Material has been filed by or on behalf of any Loan Parties and no
            site or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by any
            Loan Party is listed or to the knowledge of any Loan Party (upon due
            investigation) proposed for listing on the NPL, CERCLIS or any
            similar state list of sites requiring investigation or clean-up, in
            each case, which has either not been resolved to the satisfaction of
            the issuing authority or which would not individually or in the
            aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (vi) No Liens have arisen under or pursuant to any Environmental
            Laws on any site or facility owned, operated or leased by any Loan
            Party, and no government action has been taken or is in process that
            could subject any such site or facility to such Liens and none of
            the Loan Parties would be required to place any notice or
            restriction relating to the presence of Hazardous Materials at any
            site or facility owned by it in any deed to the real property on
            which such site or facility is located.

                (vii) All investigations, studies, audits, tests, reviews or
            other analyses conducted by or that are in the possession of any
            Loan Party relating to environmental matters at or affecting any
            site or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the
            any Loan Party and that reveal facts, circumstances or conditions
            that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
            Effect have been made available to the Purchasers.

            (n) LEGAL INVESTMENTS; USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company will use the
      proceeds from the sale of the Notes to refinance the indebtedness set
      forth on the "Use of Proceeds Schedule" and for general working capital
      purposes. None of the Loan Parties is engaged in the business of extending
      credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" or
      "margin security" (within the meaning of Regulations T, U or X issued by
      the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of
      the sale of the Notes will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock
      or margin security or to extend credit to others for the purpose of
      purchasing or carrying any margin stock or margin security.

            (o) TAXES. Each of the Loan Parties (either directly, or indirectly
      through the Company) has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state
      and local tax returns which are required to be filed by it, and has paid
      or caused to be paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns
      or on any assessments received by it, including payroll taxes, except for
      any taxes being contested by a Loan Party in good faith by proper
      proceedings as to which no Liens have been created on any property of any
      Loan Party.

                                       27
<PAGE>
            (p) LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT. Each of the Loan Parties is and each of
      its Plans are in compliance in all material respects with those provisions
      of ERISA, the Code, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the
      regulations and published interpretations thereunder which are applicable
      to the Loan Parties or any such Plan. As of the date hereof, no Reportable
      Event has occurred with respect to any Plan as to which any of the Loan
      Parties is or was required to file a report with the PBGC. No Plan has any
      material amount of unfunded benefit liabilities (within the meaning of
      Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) or any accumulated funding deficiency
      (within the meaning of Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA), whether or not waived,
      and neither the Loan Parties nor any member of the Controlled Group has
      incurred or expects to incur any material withdrawal liability under
      Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA to a Multiemployer Plan. Except as
      reflected in the Loan Parties' respective balance sheets dated as of March
      31, 2000, each of the Loan Parties is in compliance in all material
      respects with all labor and employment laws, rules, regulations and
      requirements of all applicable domestic and foreign jurisdictions. There
      are no pending of threatened labor disputes, work stoppages or strikes.

            (q) INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT; PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. None
      of the Loan Parties is (a) an "investment company" within the meaning of
      the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) a "holding company"
      or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company" or an "affiliate" of a
      "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company,"
      within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
      amended.

            (r) PROPERTIES; SECURITY INTERESTS. The Loan Parties have good and
      marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in or valid rights to use,
      all of the material assets and properties required by each of the Loan
      Parties to conduct the Business (collectively, the "Properties and
      Facilities"), subject to no Liens except for Permitted Liens. All real
      estate owned or leased by any of the Loan Parties is listed on the
      "Properties Schedule."

            (s) SOLVENCY. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated
      herein, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Company, on a consolidated
      basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed its debts and liabilities,
      subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (ii) the present fair saleable
      value of the property the Company, on a consolidated basis will be greater
      than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its
      debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as
      such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) the
      Company, on a consolidated basis will be able to pay its debts and
      liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and
      liabilities become absolute and matured, and (iv) the Company will not
      have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in
      which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to
      be conducted following the Closing Date.

            (t) COMPLETE DISCLOSURE. Except as disclosed in the Company's
      filings with the SEC, all factual information (other than projections)
      furnished by or on behalf of any of the Loan Parties to each Purchaser for
      purposes of or in connection with this Agreement and all other such
      factual information (other than projections) hereafter

                                       28
<PAGE>
      furnished by or on behalf of any of the Loan Parties will be, when taken
      as a whole, true and accurate in all material respects on the date as of
      which such information is furnished and not incomplete by omitting to
      state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading
      at such time in light of the circumstances under which such information
      was provided.

            (u) SIDE AGREEMENTS. None of the Loan Parties nor any Affiliate of
      the Loan Parties and no director, officer or employee of any of the Loan
      Parties or any of its Affiliates, respectively, has entered into, as of
      the date hereof, any side agreement, either oral or written, with any
      individual or business with respect to any Correctional and Detention
      Facility Contract, pursuant to which the director, officer, employee, Loan
      Parties or Affiliate has agreed to do anything beyond the requirements of
      the Correctional and Detention Facility Contract.

            (v) BROKER'S OR FINDER'S COMMISSIONS. No broker's or finder's or
      placement fee or commission will be payable to any broker or agent engaged
      by the Loan Parties, or any of their officers, directors or agents with
      respect to the issue of the Notes, the Warrants or the transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement except for fees payable to ING (U.S.)
      Capital LLC in the amount of $1,400,000. The Loan Parties jointly and
      severally, agree to indemnify each Purchaser and hold it harmless from and
      against any claim, demand or liability for broker's or finder's or
      placement fees or similar commissions, whether or not payable by the Loan
      Parties, alleged to have been incurred in connection with such
      transactions, other than any broker's or finder's fees payable to Persons
      each engaged by each Purchaser without the knowledge of the Loan Parties.

            (w) PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The Company's principal place of
      business is 1700 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas 77027.

      5.2 ABSOLUTE RELIANCE ON THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. So long as
any Notes or other obligations of the Company to any Purchaser are outstanding,
all representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and any financial
statements, instruments, certificates, schedules or other documents delivered in
connection herewith, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 6

                                TRANSFER OF NOTES

      6.1 RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Each Purchaser acknowledges that the Securities
have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if
registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption
from registration is available, and that the Loan Parties are not required to
register the Notes or the Warrants, as the case may be.

      6.2 LEGENDS; PURCHASERS' REPRESENTATIONS. Each Purchaser hereby represents
and warrants to the Loan Parties that (a) it is an "accredited investor" within
the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and is acquiring the
Securities for investment for its own account, with no present intention of
dividing its participation with others (except for a potential

                                       29
<PAGE>
transfer or transfers of the Securities to an affiliate or affiliates of such
Purchaser) or reselling or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the
Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws. Upon the assignment or
transfer by each Purchaser or any of its successors or assignees of all or any
part of the Securities, the term "Purchaser" as used herein shall thereafter
mean, to the extent thereof, the then holder or holders of such Securities, or
portion thereof; and (b) no broker's or finder's or placement fee or commission
will be payable to any broker or agent engaged by the Purchasers or any of their
officers, directors or agents with respect to the issue of the Notes, the
Warrants and the other transactions contemplated by the Note Documents. The
Purchasers jointly but not severally, agree to indemnify the Loan Parties and
hold them harmless from and against any claim, demand or liability for broker's
or finder's or placement fees or similar commissions, whether or not payable by
the Purchasers, alleged to have been incurred in connection with such
transactions, other than any broker's or finder's fees payable to Persons each
engaged by the Loan Parties without the knowledge of the Purchasers.

      6.3 TRANSFER OF NOTES. Subject to Section 6.2 hereof and the following
sentence of this Section 6.3, a holder of a Note may transfer such Note to a new
holder, or may exchange such Note for Notes of different denominations (but in
no event of denominations of less than $2,000,000 in original principal amount),
by surrendering such Note to the Loan Parties duly endorsed for transfer or
accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer naming the new holder (or
the current holder if submitted for exchange only), together with written
instructions for the issuance of one or more new Notes specifying the respective
principal amounts of each new Note and the name of each new holder and each
address therefor. So long as the maturity dates of the Notes have not been
accelerated or no Event of Bankruptcy with respect to any Loan Party has
occurred or is occurring, each Purchaser agrees that any new holder referred to
in the preceding sentence of this Section 6.3 shall not be a Direct Competitor
of the Company and shall be an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Rule
501(a) under the Securities Act and is in the business of purchasing the
securities or investments similar to the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement. The Loan Parties shall simultaneously deliver to such holder or its
designee such new Notes and shall mark the surrendered Notes as canceled. In
lieu of the foregoing procedures, a holder may assign a Note (in whole but not
in part) to a new holder by sending written notice to the Loan Parties of such
assignment specifying the new holder's name and address; in such case, the Loan
Parties shall promptly acknowledge such assignment in writing to both the old
and new holder.

      6.4 REPLACEMENT OF LOST SECURITIES. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Loan Parties of the mutilation, destruction, loss or theft
of any Securities and the ownership thereof, the Loan Parties shall, upon the
written request of the holder of such Securities, execute and deliver in
replacement thereof new Securities in the same form, in the same original
principal amount and dated the same date as the Securities so mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen; and such Securities so mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen shall then be deemed no longer outstanding hereunder. If the Securities
being replaced have been mutilated, they shall be surrendered to the Loan
Parties; and if such replaced Securities have been destroyed, lost or stolen,
such holder shall furnish the Loan Parties with an indemnity in writing to save
it harmless in respect of such replaced Security.

                                       30
<PAGE>
      6.5 NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AFFECTED. Nothing contained in this Article 6
shall limit the full force or effect of any representation, agreement or
warranty made herein or in connection herewith to each Purchaser.

                                   ARTICLE 7

                                    COVENANTS

      7.1 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. Each of the Loan Parties, jointly and
severally, covenants that, so long as all or any of the principal amount of the
Notes or any interest thereon shall remain outstanding, and, thereafter, so long
as any Purchaser owns any Warrants, shall:

            (a) EXISTENCE. Do or cause to be done all things necessary to
      preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence.

            (b) BUSINESSES AND PROPERTIES; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. At all times
      (i) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and
      keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, registrations,
      permits, certifications, approvals, consents, franchises, patents,
      copyrights, trademarks and trade names, and any other trade names which
      may be material to the conduct of its business, (ii) comply in all
      material respects with all laws and regulations applicable to the
      operation of such business, including but not limited to, all
      Environmental Laws, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted and with
      all other applicable laws and regulations, in each case, if failure to
      comply could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
      (iii) take all action that may be required to obtain, preserve, renew and
      extend all rights, patents, copyrights, trademarks, tradenames,
      franchises, registrations, certifications, approvals, consents, licenses,
      permits and any other authorizations which may be material to the
      operation of such business, (iv) maintain, preserve and protect all
      property material to the conduct of such business, ordinary wear and tear
      excepted, and (v) except for obsolete or worn out equipment, keep its
      property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time
      make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals,
      additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that
      the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted
      at all times.

            (c) INSURANCE. Maintain insurance required by the Note Documents,
      including but not limited to: (i) coverage on its insurable properties
      (including all inventory, equipment and real property) against the perils
      of fire, theft and burglary; (ii) public liability; (iii) workers'
      compensation; (iv) business interruption; and (v) such other risks as are
      customary with companies similarly situated and in the same or similar
      business as that of the Loan Parties under policies issued by financially
      sound and reputable insurers in such amounts as are customary with
      companies similarly situated and in the same or similar business. The Loan
      Parties shall pay all insurance premiums payable by it and shall deliver
      copies of the policy or policies of such insurance (or certificates of
      insurance with copies of such policies) to each Purchaser. All insurance
      policies of the Loan Parties shall contain endorsements, in form and
      substance reasonably satisfactory to

                                       31
<PAGE>
      Purchasers, providing that the insurance shall not be cancelable except
      upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to each Purchaser.

            (d) OBLIGATIONS AND TAXES. Pay and discharge promptly when due all
      taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or
      upon its income or profits or in respect of its property before the same
      shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful claims for
      labor, materials and supplies or otherwise, which, if unpaid, might give
      rise to Liens or charges upon such properties or any part thereof;
      provided, however, that none of the Loan Parties shall not be required to
      pay and discharge or to cause to be paid and discharged any such tax,
      assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount
      thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
      the Loan Parties shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with
      respect thereto.

            (e) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; REPORTS. Furnish to each Purchaser:

                (i) ANNUAL STATEMENTS. Within ninety (90) days after the end of
            each fiscal year, a balance sheet and statements of operations,
            shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Company showing, on a
            consolidated and consolidating basis, the financial condition of the
            Company, on a consolidated basis as of the close of such year and
            the results of operations during such year, all the foregoing
            financial statements to be audited by Arthur Andersen LLP or a firm
            of independent certified public accountants of recognized national
            standing acceptable to Purchasers and accompanied by an opinion of
            such accountants (which shall not contain any Impermissible
            Qualifications) which opinion shall state that said financial
            statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition and
            results of operations of the Loan Parties as at the end of and for
            such year in accordance with GAAP.

                (ii) QUARTERLY STATEMENTS. As soon as available and in any event
            within forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of each of the
            first three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year, financial
            statements of the Company, consisting of a consolidated and
            consolidating balance sheet as of the end of such fiscal quarter and
            related consolidated and consolidating statements of income,
            shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then
            ended and the fiscal year through that date, all in reasonable
            detail and certified (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments)
            by a senior financial officer of the Company as having been prepared
            in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in
            comparative form the respective financial statements for the
            corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year. The
            Company shall also provide with the statements provided for in this
            Section 7.1(e)(ii) a management discussion and analysis comparing
            the financial results related therein to its budget for the period
            discussed and the same fiscal period for the prior year.

                (iii) MONTHLY STATEMENTS. Within thirty (30) calendar days after
            the end of each calendar month, financial statements (including a
            balance sheet and income statements) showing the financial condition
            and results of operations of

                                       32
<PAGE>
            the Company, on a consolidated basis, as of the end of each such
            month and for the then elapsed portion of the current fiscal year,
            together with comparisons to the budget for such periods,
            accompanied by a certificate of an officer that such financial
            statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to
            normal year end adjustments. In addition, the Company shall provide
            monthly profit and loss statements by facility, with comparisons to
            the budget for such periods.

                (iv) FORMAT; CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE. If requested by
            Purchaser, each balance sheet, income statement and cash flow
            statement furnished to Purchasers pursuant to subsection (i), (ii)
            or (iii) of this Section 7.1(e) will be furnished by an electronic
            means in Excel spreadsheet format containing such line items and
            other formatting requirements as are customarily used by the
            Company. Each financial statement furnished to Purchasers pursuant
            to subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.1(e) shall be
            accompanied by a written certificate signed by a senior financial
            officer of the Company to the effect that no Default or Event of
            Default has occurred during the period covered by such statements
            or, if any such Default or Event of Default has occurred during such
            period, setting forth a description of such Default or Event of
            Default and specifying the action, if any, taken by the Loan Parties
            to remedy the same. Each financial statement furnished to Purchasers
            pursuant to subsection (ii) of this Section 7.1(e) shall be
            accompanied by a compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit H
            showing Loan Parties' compliance with the covenants set forth in
            Section 7.3.

                (v) ACCOUNTANT REPORTS. Promptly upon the receipt thereof,
            copies of all reports, if any, submitted to the Company by
            independent certified public accountants in connection with each
            annual, interim or special audit or review of the financial
            statements of the Company made by such accountants, including but
            not limited to, any comment letter submitted by such accountants to
            management in connection with any annual review.

                (vi) PROJECTIONS. As soon as available, but in no event later
            than January 15 of each year, a projection of the Loan Parties'
            consolidated balance sheet, income, retained earnings and cash flow
            statements and capital expenditure requirements, respectively, on a
            monthly basis for the following fiscal year and comparable actual
            and budgeted figures for the current year and the months thereof;
            and within ten (10) days after any material update or amendment of
            any such plan or forecast, a copy of such update or amendment,
            including a description of and reasons for such update or amendment.

                (vii) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Promptly, from time to time, such
            other information regarding the compliance by each of the Loan
            Parties with the terms of this Agreement and the other Note
            Documents or the affairs, operations or condition (financial or
            otherwise) of the Loan Parties as each Purchaser may reasonably
            request and which is capable of being obtained, produced or
            generated by the Loan Parties or of which the Loan Parties have
            knowledge.

                                       33
<PAGE>
            (f) LITIGATION AND OTHER NOTICES. Give each Purchaser prompt written
      notice of the following:

                (i) ORDERS; INJUNCTIONS. The issuance by any court or
            governmental agency or authority of any injunction, order, decision
            or other restraint prohibiting, or having the effect of prohibiting,
            the making of any loan or the initiation of any litigation or
            similar proceeding seeking any such injunction, order or other
            restraint unless such action, if adversely determined, would not
            have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (ii) LITIGATION. The notice, filing or commencement of any
            action, suit or proceeding against any of the Loan Parties whether
            at law or in equity or by or before any court or any Federal, state,
            municipal or other governmental agency or authority and which, if
            adversely determined against any of the Loan Parties, could result
            in uninsured liability in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate unless
            such action, if adversely determined, would not have a Material
            Adverse Effect.

                (iii) DEFAULT. Any Default or Event of Default specifying the
            nature and extent thereof and the action (if any) which is proposed
            to be taken with respect thereto.

            (g) ERISA. Comply in all material respects with the applicable
      provisions of ERISA and the provisions of the Code relating thereto and
      furnish to each Purchaser (i) as soon as possible, and in any event within
      thirty (30) days after the Loan Parties knows or has reason to know
      thereof, notice of (A) the establishment by the Loan Parties of any Plan
      subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) or subject
      of Section 302 of ERISA (B) the commencement by the Loan Parties of
      contributions to a Multiemployer Plan, (C) any failure by the Loan Parties
      or any of its ERISA Affiliates to make contributions required by Section
      302 of ERISA (whether or not such requirement is waived pursuant to
      Section 303 of ERISA), or (D) the occurrence of any Reportable Event with
      respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan for which the reporting
      requirement is not waived, together with a statement of an officer setting
      forth details as to such Reportable Event and the action which the Loan
      Parties propose to take with respects thereto, together with a copy of the
      notice of such Reportable Event given to the PBGC if any such notice was
      provided by the Loan Parties, and (ii) promptly after receipt thereof, a
      copy of any notice the Loan Parties may receive from the PBGC relating to
      the intention of the PBGC to terminate any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or
      to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, and
      (iii) promptly after receipt thereof, a copy of any notice of withdrawal
      liability from any Multiemployer Plan.

            (h) MAINTAINING RECORDS; ACCESS TO PREMISES AND INSPECTIONS. Upon
      reasonable notice to the Company, at all reasonable times and during
      normal business hours and as often as any Purchaser may reasonably request
      (and at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of Event
      of Default), permit any authorized representative designated by each
      Purchaser to visit and inspect the properties and financial records of
      each of the Loan Parties and to make extracts from such financial records,
      all at the Loan Parties' reasonable expense, and permit any authorized

                                       34
<PAGE>
      representative designated by each Purchaser to discuss the affairs,
      finances and conditions of the Loan Parties with the Loan Parties' senior
      financial officers and such other officers as the Loan Parties shall deem
      appropriate, and the Company's independent public accountants.

            (i) BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Until such time as each Purchaser sells any
      of its Common Stock, such Purchaser shall have the right to receive all
      materials prepared in advance for meetings by the Board of Directors. The
      Company reserves the right not to provide information to the extent that
      delivery of such information would result in the disclosure of material
      that that the Company is specifically restricted from disclosing pursuant
      to a written confidentiality agreement or which would adversely affect the
      attorney/client privilege between the Company and its counsel.

      7.2 NEGATIVE COVENANTS. The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant
that, so long as all or any part of the principal amount of the Notes or any
interest thereon shall remain outstanding:

            (a) INDEBTEDNESS. None of the Loan Parties shall create, incur,
      assume guarantee or be or remain liable for, contingently or otherwise, or
      suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except (without duplication):

                (i) Indebtedness under this Agreement;

                (ii) Indebtedness constituting Senior Debt (subject to the
            limitations set forth in the definition of Senior Debt);

                (iii) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business
            with respect to customer deposits, trade payables and other
            unsecured current liabilities not the result of borrowing and not
            evidenced by any note or other evidence of indebtedness;

                (iv) Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 7.2(a) "Permitted
            Indebtedness";

                (v) Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the Company to the Company
            or to other Subsidiaries of the Company; and

                (vi) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by
            Permitted Liens, up to but not exceeding $1,000,000 at any one time
            outstanding.

            (b) NEGATIVE PLEDGE; LIENS. The Loan Parties shall not create,
      incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any of its
      properties or assets of any kind, except the following (collectively,
      "Permitted Liens"):

                (i) Liens securing the Senior Debt;

                (ii) Liens in existence on the date hereof and listed in the
            "Permitted Liens Schedule" attached hereto;

                                       35
<PAGE>
                (iii) Liens imposed by any governmental authority for taxes,
            assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in
            good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with
            respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or the
            affected Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in accordance with GAAP;

                (iv) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's,
            repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of
            business that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or
            that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
            proceedings and Liens securing judgments but only to the extent for
            an amount and for a period not resulting in an Event of Default
            under SECTION 8.1(I) hereof;

                (v) pledges or deposits under worker's compensation,
            unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

                (vi) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts
            (other than for Indebtedness), leases, statutory obligations, surety
            and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like
            nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

                (vii) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar
            encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and
            encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, licenses,
            restrictions on the use of Property or minor imperfections in title
            thereto that, in the aggregate, are not material in amount, and that
            do not in any case materially detract from the value of the Property
            subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the
            business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

                (viii) Liens upon real and/or tangible personal Property
            acquired after the date hereof (by purchase, construction or
            otherwise) by the Loan Parties, each of which Liens either (A)
            existed on such Property before the time of its acquisition and was
            not created in anticipation thereof or (B) was created solely for
            the purpose of securing Indebtedness representing, or incurred to
            finance, refinance or refund, the cost (including the cost of
            construction) of such Property; PROVIDED that (i) no such Lien shall
            extend to or cover any Property of the Loan Parties other than the
            Property so acquired and improvements thereon and (ii) the principal
            amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time
            exceed 80% of the fair market value (as determined in good faith by
            a senior financial officer of the Company) of such Property at the
            time it was acquired (by purchase, construction or otherwise); and

                (ix) extensions, renewals and replacements of Liens referred to
            in clauses (i) through (viii) of this Section 7.2(b) provided,
            however, that any such extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall
            be limited to the property or assets covered by the Lien extended,
            renewed or replaced and that the obligations secured by any such
            extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be in an amount

                                       36
<PAGE>
            not greater than the amount of the obligations secured by the Lien
            extended, renewed or replaced.

            (c) CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. The Loan Parties shall not become liable
      for any Guaranties, except for (i) the endorsement of negotiable
      instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the
      ordinary course of business and (ii) Guaranties of Indebtedness permitted
      by Section 7.2(a).

            (d) AGREEMENTS. None of the Loan Parties shall enter into any loan
      agreements, leases or other agreements that would prevent Purchasers from
      curing defaults thereunder.

            (e) ASSET DISPOSITIONS. The Loan Parties shall not permit any Asset
      Dispositions that are greater than (i) fifteen percent (15%), in any given
      fiscal year, of the value, as reported on the financial statements last
      delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(e), of the assets of the Loan Parties on
      a consolidated basis or (ii) thirty percent (30%), on a cumulative basis
      from the Closing Date, of the value reported on the financial statements
      last delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(e) as of the end of the fiscal
      quarter of the Company immediately preceding the most recent Asset
      Disposition, as reported on the financial statements last delivered
      pursuant to Section 7.1(e), of the assets of the Loan Parties on a
      consolidated basis.

            (f) AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except as expressly permitted by this
      Agreement, the Loan Parties will not, directly or indirectly: (i) make any
      Investment in an Affiliate; (ii) transfer, sell, lease, assign or
      otherwise dispose of any Property to an Affiliate; (iii) merge into or
      consolidate with or purchase or acquire Property from an Affiliate; or
      (iv) enter into any other transaction directly or indirectly with or for
      the benefit of an Affiliate (including, without limitation, Guarantees and
      assumptions of obligations of an Affiliate); PROVIDED that (1) any
      Affiliate who is an individual may serve as a director, officer or
      employee of any Loan Party and receive reasonable compensation for his or
      her services in such capacity and (2) each of the Loan Parties may enter
      into transactions (other than extensions of credit by the Loan Parties to
      an Affiliate) providing for the leasing of Property, the rendering or
      receipt of services or the purchase or sale of inventory and other
      Property in the ordinary course of business if the monetary or business
      consideration arising therefrom would be substantially as advantageous to
      the Loan Parties as the monetary or business consideration that would
      obtain in a comparable transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

            (g) DIVIDENDS AND STOCK PURCHASES. None of the Loan Parties shall
      directly or indirectly: declare or pay any dividends (excluding dividends
      declared by the Company payable solely in shares of the Company's stock),
      or make any distribution of any kind on its outstanding equity securities
      or any other payment of any kind with respect to its outstanding equity
      securities to any of its stockholders or Affiliates (including any
      redemption, purchase or acquisition of, whether in cash or in property,
      securities or a combination thereof, any partnership interests or capital
      accounts or warrants, options or any of its other securities), or set
      aside any sum for any such purpose; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company
      may: (i) repurchase shares of the Common Stock so long as the

                                       37
<PAGE>
      aggregate amount paid by the Company for all such repurchases does not
      exceed $2,500,000 in any fiscal year of the Company and $7,500,000, in the
      aggregate, and (ii) declare or make stock splits which do not decrease the
      percentage ownership of any Person in any class of the capital stock of
      the Company; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that so long as no Default or Event of
      Default shall exist or be continuing hereunder or be created as a result
      thereof, the Loan Parties may pay dividends or make distributions solely
      to other Loan Parties.

            (h) ADVANCES, INVESTMENTS AND LOANS. The Loan Parties shall not
      purchase, or hold beneficially any stock, other securities or evidences of
      Indebtedness of, or make or permit to exist any loan, Guaranty or advance
      to, or make any investment or acquire any interest whatsoever in, any
      other Person, except:

                (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or
            insured by the United States of America or any agency or
            instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six
            months from the date of acquisition;

                (ii) United States dollar denominated time deposits,
            certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances of any bank or trust
            company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least
            $500,000 with maturities of not more than six months from the date
            of acquisition;

                (iii) commercial paper with a rating of at least A-1 or the
            equivalent by S&P or at least P-1 or the equivalent by Moody's
            maturing within six months after the date of acquisition;

                (iv) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the
            United States of America or any political subdivision of any such
            state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within six
            months from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of
            acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from
            either S&P or Moody's;

                (v) Investments in money market funds substantially all the
            assets of which are comprised of securities of the types described
            in clauses (i) through (iv) above;

                (vi) Investments (including debt obligations) received in
            connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and
            customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other
            disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary
            course of business;

                (vii) receivables owing to the Loan Parties created or acquired
            in the ordinary course of business and payable on customary trade
            terms of the Loan Parties;

                (viii) deposits made in the ordinary course of business
            consistent with past practices to secure the performance of leases
            or in connection with bidding on government contracts;

                                       38
<PAGE>
                (ix) advances to employees in the ordinary course of business
            for business expenses; provided, however, that the aggregate amount
            of such advances at any time outstanding shall not exceed $250,000;

                (x) Interest Rate Protection Agreements required to be
            maintained under Section 9.19 of the Credit Agreement;

                (xi) loans or advances made by the Company to Mr. David Cornell
            and Mr. Steven Logan, with the terms and conditions set forth on
            Schedule 7.2(h) "Advance and Loan Terms and Conditions" to this
            Agreement, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,300,000; and

                (xii) additional Investments up to but not exceeding $200,000 in
            the aggregate.

            (i) USE OF PROCEEDS. The Loan Parties shall not use any proceeds
      from the sale of the Notes hereunder, directly or indirectly, for the
      purposes of purchasing or carrying any "margin securities" within the
      meaning of Regulations T, U or X promulgated by the Board of Governors of
      the Federal Reserve Board or for the purpose of arranging for the
      extension of credit secured, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part
      by collateral that includes any "margin securities."

            (j) SUBSIDIARIES. None of the Loan Parties shall establish or
      acquire any Subsidiary that does not execute and become a party to this
      Agreement and that certain Guarantee Agreement dated as of the date hereof
      by and among the Loan Parties signatory thereto executed in connection
      with Section 4.1(f)(xii) of this Agreement.

            (k) BUSINESS. None of the Loan Parties shall engage, directly or
      indirectly, in any business other than as stated in Section 5.1(b)
      (Principal Business) hereof.

            (l) FISCAL YEAR; ACCOUNTING. None of the Loan Parties shall change
      its Fiscal Year from ending on December 31 or method of accounting (other
      than immaterial changes in methods), except as required by GAAP.

            (m) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW OR CHANGED BUSINESS LOCATIONS. None of the
      Loan Parties shall relocate its principal executive offices or other
      facilities, and shall not establish new business locations or store any
      inventory or other assets at a location not identified to each Purchaser
      on or before the date hereof, without providing not less than thirty (30)
      days advance written notice to such Purchaser.

            (n) CHANGED OR ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NAMES. None of the Loan Parties
      shall change its corporate name or establish new or additional trade names
      without providing thirty (30) days advance written notice to each
      Purchaser.

            (o) BROKER'S FEES. None of the Loan Parties or the Purchasers shall
      pay or suffer payment of broker's or finder's or placement fees or
      commissions payable to any broker or agent engaged by the Loan Parties or
      the Purchasers or any of their officers,

                                       39
<PAGE>
      directors or agents with respect to the issue of the Notes, the Warrants
      or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than the fee due
      to ING (U.S.) Capital LLC.

            (p) THE CORNELL COX GROUP, L.P. The Cornell Cox Group, L.P., a
      Delaware limited partnership, shall not hold or acquire any Property and
      shall not incur any Indebtedness or other liabilities in addition to those
      in existence as of the date hereof.

            (q) SALE LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS. Except for Municipal Transactions,
      the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
      enter into any arrangement with any Person whereby the Company or such
      Subsidiary shall sell or otherwise transfer any of its Property, whether
      now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such
      Property or similar Property for substantially the same use or uses as the
      Property sold or transferred UNLESS the following conditions are
      satisfied:

                (i) the consideration received by the Company or such Subsidiary
            in connection with such transfer is at least equal to the fair
            market value of the Property so transferred (as reasonably
            determined by the Board of Directors of the Company); and

                (ii) all of the net proceeds received by the Company or any of
            its Subsidiaries in connection with any such transaction are used by
            the Company, within 18 months of the receipt thereof, to either (i)
            acquire other Property in compliance with the term of this Agreement
            and/or (ii) repay or prepay Indebtedness of the Company or any of
            its Subsidiaries.

      7.3 FINANCIAL COVENANTS. The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant
that, so long as all or any part of the principal amount of the Notes or any
interest thereon shall remain outstanding, they shall maintain at the end of
each calendar quarter, calculated using the immediately preceding 12 months
performance of the Loan Parties, unless stated to the contrary herein, (each
such date being a "Measurement Date") beginning with July 31, 2000:

            (a) EBITDAR RATIO I. The Company will not permit the EBITDAR Ratio I
      with respect to any period ending on a date that falls within any period
      set forth below under the column entitled "Period" to exceed the
      applicable ratio set forth under the caption "Ratio" opposite such period:

            PERIOD                                RATIO
            ------                                -----
      Closing Date through and
      including March 31, 2001                    4.10 to 1

      April 1, 2001 through and
      including December 31, 2001                 4.00 to 1

      January 1, 2002 through and
      including June 30, 2005                     3.75 to 1

      July 1, 2005 through and

                                       40
<PAGE>
            PERIOD                                RATIO
            ------                                -----

      including June 30, 2006                     3.50 to 1

      July 1, 2006 through and
      all times thereafter                        3.25 to 1

            (b) EBITDAR RATIO II. The Company will not permit the EBITDAR Ratio
      II with respect to any period ending on a date that falls within any
      period set forth below under the column entitled "Period" to exceed the
      applicable ratio set forth under the caption "Ratio" opposite such period:

            PERIOD                                RATIO
            ------                                -----
      Closing Date through and
      including March 31, 2001                    5.50 to 1

      April 1, 2001 through and
      including September 30, 2001                4.90 to 1

      October 1, 2001 through and
      including March 31, 2002                    4.90 to 1

      April 1, 2002 through and
      including June 30, 2005                     4.75 to 1

      July 1, 2005 through and
      including June 30, 2006                     4.50 to 1

      July 1, 2006 and all times thereafter       4.25 to 1

            (c) NET WORTH. The Company will not permit its Net Worth, as
      measured at the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company (a
      "Calculation Date"), to be less than the sum of the following:

                (i) $83,000,000; plus

                (ii) an amount equal to 50% of the aggregate net income of the
            Company (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP)
            for each fiscal quarter of the Company for which such net income is
            a positive number, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on
            September 30, 2000 and ending with the fiscal quarter ending on the
            Calculation Date; plus

                (iii) an amount equal to the aggregate Net Available Proceeds
            received in respect of Equity Issuances during the period commencing
            on July 1, 2000 and ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter.

                                       41
<PAGE>
            (d) INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. The Company will not permit the
      Interest Coverage Ratio with respect to any period ending on a date that
      falls within any period set forth under the column entitled "Period" to be
      less than the applicable ratio set forth under the caption "Ratio"
      opposite such period:

              PERIOD                               RATIO
              ------                               -----

      Closing Date through and
      including March 31, 2003                   1.80 to 1
      April 1, 2003 through and
      including December 31, 2003                1.90 to 1
      January 1, 2004 through and
      including June 30, 2004                    2.00 to 1
      July 1, 2004 and all times
      thereafter                                 2.00 to 1

            (e) FIXED CHARGES RATIO. The Company will not permit the Fixed
      Charges Ratio with respect to any period ending on a date that falls
      within any period set forth under the column entitled "Period" to be less
      than the applicable ratio set forth under the caption "Ratio" opposite
      such period:

               PERIOD                               RATIO
               ------                               -----
      Closing Date through and
      including March 31, 2001                    1.40 to 1
      April 1, 2001 through and
      including June 30, 2003                     1.40 to 1
      July 1, 2003 and all times thereafter       1.35 to 1

            (f) CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Company will not, and will not permit
      any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Capital Expenditures at any time,
      except for the following:

                (i) maintenance and infrastructure Capital Expenditures in an
            aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to 3.25% of the total
            revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year; and

                (ii) Capital Expenditures made in connection with Eligible
            Acquisitions and/or Eligible New Contracts for the period beginning
            from the date on which such Eligible Acquisitions and/or Eligible
            New Contracts are consummated and ending on July 21, 2007.

                                       42
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE 8

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

      8.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. An Event of Default means the occurrence of one or
more of the following described events:

            (a) the Loan Parties shall default in the payment of (i) interest on
      the Notes and all premiums, fees and expenses related thereto within five
      (5) days after its due date or (ii) principal of the Notes when due,
      whether at maturity, upon notice of prepayment in accordance with Sections
      3.2 or 3.4, upon any scheduled payment date or by acceleration or
      otherwise;

            (b) any of the Loan Parties shall be (i) in default in the payment
      when due of any principal of or interest on any of its Indebtedness
      aggregating $1,000,000.00 or more (other than the Senior Debt), or in the
      payment when due of any amount under any Interest Rate Protection
      Agreement; or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture or
      other document evidencing or relating to any such Indebtedness or any
      event specified in any Interest Rate Protection Agreement shall occur if
      the effect of such event is to cause, or (with the giving of any notice or
      the lapse of time or both) to permit the holder or holders of such
      Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders)
      to cause, such Indebtedness to become due, or to be prepaid in full
      (whether by redemption, purchase, offer to purchase or otherwise), prior
      to its stated maturity or, in the case of an Interest Rate Protection
      Agreement, to permit the payments owing under such Interest Rate
      Protection Agreement to be liquidated; (ii) the Company shall be obligated
      to pay any "Recourse Deficiency Amount" (as that term is defined in the
      Master Agreement) in respect of the Senior Synthetic Loans; or (iii) the
      Senior Debt, or any portion thereof, becomes due prior to its stated
      maturity (whether automatically or by acceleration).

            (c) any representation or warranty herein made by any of the Loan
      Parties, or any certificate or financial statement furnished pursuant to
      the provisions hereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any
      material respect as of the time made or furnished or deemed made or
      furnished;

            (d) any of the Loan Parties shall default in the performance of any
      covenant, condition or provision of Section 7.1(h) or 7.3;

            (e) any of the Loan Parties shall default in the performance of any
      other covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement, the Notes or the
      other Note Documents, and such default shall not be remedied for a period
      of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) written notice from a
      Purchaser of such default (ii) actual knowledge by the Loan Parties of
      such default or (iii) any applicable notice or cure period therein;

            (f) a proceeding shall have been instituted in a court having
      jurisdiction in the premises seeking a decree or order for relief in
      respect of any of the Loan Parties in an involuntary case under any
      applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or

                                       43
<PAGE>
      hereafter in effect, or for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,
      assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of any of
      the Loan Parties or for any substantial part of its property, or for the
      winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and such proceeding shall remain
      undismissed or unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) days;

            (g) any of the Loan Parties shall commence a voluntary case under
      any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
      hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in
      an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the
      appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
      trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of any of the
      Loan Parties or for any substantial part of its property, or shall make a
      general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally
      to pay its debts as they become due, or shall take any action in
      furtherance of any of the foregoing;

            (h) both the following events shall occur; (i) a Reportable Event,
      the occurrence of which would have a Material Adverse Effect which could
      cause the imposition of a Lien under Section 4068 of ERISA, shall have
      occurred with respect to any Plan or Plans; and (ii) the aggregate amount
      of the then "current liability" (as defined in Section 412(l)(7) of the
      Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of all accrued benefits under
      such Plan or Plans exceeds the then current value of the assets allocable
      to such benefits by more than $100,000 at such time;

            (i) a final judgment which, with other undischarged final judgments
      against any of the Loan Parties, exceeds an aggregate of $5,000,000
      (excluding judgments to the extent the Loan Parties are fully insured or
      the deductible or retention limit does not exceed $100,000 and with
      respect to which the insurer has assumed responsibility in writing), shall
      have been entered against any of the Loan Parties if, within thirty (30)
      days after the entry thereof, such judgment shall not have been discharged
      or execution thereof stayed pending appeal (or appropriate bond filed), or
      if, within thirty (30) days after the expiration of any such stay, such
      judgment shall not have been discharged;

            (j) a reasonable basis shall exist for the assertion against the
      Loan Parties, or any predecessor in interest of the Loan Parties or
      Affiliates, of (or there shall have been asserted against the Company or
      any of its Subsidiaries) an Environmental Claim that, in the exercise of
      commercially reasonable judgment of the Purchasers is reasonably likely to
      be determined adversely to the Loan Parties, and the amount thereof
      (either individually or in the aggregate) is reasonably likely to have a
      Material Adverse Effect (insofar as such amount is payable by the Loan
      Parties but after deducting any portion thereof that is reasonably
      expected to be paid by other creditworthy Persons jointly and severally
      liable therefor); and

            (k) Failure to prepay the Notes, in accordance with Section 3.4
      hereof.

                                       44
<PAGE>
      8.2 CONSEQUENCES OF EVENT OF DEFAULT.

            (a) BANKRUPTCY. If an Event of Default specified in paragraphs (f)
      or (g) of Section 8.1 hereof shall occur, the unpaid balance of the Notes
      and interest accrued thereon and all other liabilities of the Loan Parties
      to the holders thereof hereunder and thereunder shall be immediately due
      and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or (except as expressly
      required hereby) notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
      waived.

            (b) OTHER DEFAULTS. If any other Event of Default shall occur the
      holders of a majority of the outstanding principal balance of the Notes
      may at their option, by written notice to the Loan Parties, declare the
      entire unpaid balance of the Notes, as the case may be, and interest
      accrued thereon and all other liabilities of the Loan Parties hereunder
      and thereunder to be forthwith due and payable, and the same shall
      thereupon become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand,
      protest or (except as expressly required hereby) notice of any kind, all
      of which are hereby expressly waived.

            (c) PENALTY INTEREST. Following the occurrence and during the
      continuance of any Event of Default, the holders of the Notes shall be
      entitled to receive, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest
      on the outstanding principal of, and premium and overdue interest, if any,
      on, the Notes at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate thereon
      (determined as provided in Section 3.1) plus three percent (3%).

            (d) PREMIUM. In the event of any acceleration of Notes pursuant to
      Section 8.2(b) hereof, the Loan Parties shall also pay to holders of Notes
      the prepayment premium that would otherwise be payable upon any voluntary
      prepayment of such Notes.

                                   ARTICLE 9

                             [intentionally omitted]

                                   ARTICLE 10

                             [intentionally omitted]

                                   ARTICLE 11

                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

      11.1 PIGGYBACK REGISTRATIONS.

            (a) Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities
      under the Securities Act and the registration form to be used may be used
      for the registration of Registrable Securities (a "Piggyback
      Registration"), the Company will give prompt written notice (in any event
      within five Business Days after its receipt of notice of any

                                       45
<PAGE>
      exercise of demand registration rights other than under this Agreement) to
      all holders of Registrable Securities with respect of the proposed
      offering at least twenty (20) days before the initial filing with the SEC
      of such registration statement, and offer to include in such filing such
      Registrable Securities as any such holder may request. Each such holder of
      Registrable Securities desiring to have Registrable Securities registered
      under this Section 11.1 shall advise the Company in writing within ten
      (10) days after the date of receipt of such notice from the Company,
      setting forth the amount of such Registrable Securities for which
      registration is requested. The Company shall thereupon include in such
      filing the number of Registrable Securities for which registration is so
      requested, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect
      registration under the Securities Act of such Registrable Securities.

            (b) The registration expenses of the holders of Registrable
      Securities will be paid by the Company in all Piggyback Registrations to
      the extent provided in Section 11.5.

            (c) If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary
      registration on behalf of the Company or the holders of 1994 Shares or
      1999 Shares, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing
      that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in
      such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in an orderly
      manner in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Company,
      the Company will include in such registration in the following order: (i)
      first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the
      Registrable Securities, the 1994 Shares and the 1999 Shares, requested to
      be included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such
      securities on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities, the 1994
      Shares and the 1999 Shares, owned by each such holder, and (iii) third,
      other securities requested to be included in such registration.

            (d) If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary
      registration on behalf of holders of the Company's securities other than
      the holders of the 1994 Shares or the 1999 Shares, and the managing
      underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the
      number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds
      the number which can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within
      a price range acceptable to the holders initially requesting such
      registration, the Company will include in such registration (i) first, the
      Registrable Securities, the 1994 Shares and the 1999 Shares requested to
      be included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of such
      Registrable Securities, the 1994 Shares and the 1999 Shares on the basis
      of the number of shares owned by each such holder, and (ii) second, other
      securities requested to be included in such registration.

            (e) If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the
      selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be
      made by the Company but must be approved by the holders of a majority of
      the Registrable Securities who request to be included in such Piggyback
      Registration. Such approval will not be unreasonably withheld.

                                       46
<PAGE>
            (f) If the Company has previously filed a registration statement
      with respect to Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 11.1, and
      if such previous registration has not been withdrawn or abandoned, the
      Company will not file or cause to be effected any other registration of
      any of its equity securities or securities convertible or exchangeable
      into or exercisable for its equity securities under the Securities Act
      (except on Form S-8 or any successor form), whether on its own behalf or
      at the request of any holder or holders of such securities, until a period
      of at least 90 days has elapsed from the effective date of such previous
      registration.

      11.2  DEMAND REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

            (a) If the Company receives a written request at any time prior to
      the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing, which request may only be
      made once by the Purchasers, by the holders of a majority of the
      Registrable Securities to effect the registration under the Securities Act
      of such securities, the Company shall follow the procedures described in
      this Section 11.2. Within five (5) days of its receipt of such request,
      the Company shall give written notice ("Demand Registration Request") of
      such proposed registration (a "Demand Registration") to all holders of
      Registrable Securities, and thereupon, the Company shall, as expeditiously
      as possible, use its best reasonable efforts to effect the registration on
      a form of general use under the Securities Act of the Registrable Shares
      it has been requested to register in such initial request and in any
      response to such notice given to the Company within twenty (20) days after
      the Company's giving of such notice.

            (b) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration
      pursuant to this Section 11.2 during the first 90 days after the effective
      date of any registration statement filed by the Company under Section 11.1
      if the holders of Registrable Securities requesting registration have been
      afforded the opportunity to register in such registration all or a
      majority of their Registrable Securities.

            (c) The Company may include in any registration under this Section
      11.2 any other Common Stock or other equity securities (including issued
      and outstanding Common Stock as to which the holders thereof have
      contracted with the Company for "piggyback" registration rights) so long
      as the inclusion in such registration of such Securities will not, in the
      opinion of the managing underwriter of the Common Stock of the
      stockholders first demanding registration (if the offering is
      underwritten), interfere with the successful marketing in accordance with
      the intended method of sale or other disposition of all the securities
      sought to be registered by such demanding stockholders pursuant to this
      Section 11.2.

            (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
      Section 11.2, the Company shall be required to complete only one (1)
      Demand Registration.

      11.3 HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS. Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees not
to effect any public sale or distribution (including sales pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act or any successor rule) of equity securities of the
Company, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
such securities, during the ten days prior to and during the 90-day period (or
such longer period, not to exceed 90 additional days, as the managing
underwriter

                                       47
<PAGE>
shall require) beginning on the effective date of any underwritten public
offering of equity securities of the Company (except as part of such
underwritten registration), unless the underwriters managing the registered
public offering otherwise agree.

      11.4 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. Whenever the holders of Registrable
Securities have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant
to this Agreement, the Company will use best efforts to effect the registration
and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended
method of disposition thereof (including the registration of Warrants held by a
holder of Registrable Securities requesting registration as to which the Company
has received reasonable assurances that only Registrable Securities will be
distributed to the public), and pursuant thereto the Company will as
expeditiously as possible:

            (a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
      respect to such Registrable Securities and use reasonable efforts to cause
      such registration statement to become effective (provided that before
      filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or
      supplements thereto, the Company will furnish to the counsel selected by
      the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such
      registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed,
      which documents will be subject to the review of such counsel);

            (b) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities such number of
      copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement
      thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including
      each preliminary prospectus) and such other documents as such seller may
      reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
      Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

            (c) use reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable
      Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
      jurisdictions as any seller of Registrable Securities reasonably requests
      and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary
      or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such
      jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided
      that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do
      business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
      qualify but for this subparagraph, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any
      such jurisdictions, (iii) consent to general service of process in each
      such jurisdiction or (iv) undertake such actions in any such jurisdiction
      other than the states of the United States of America and the District of
      Columbia);

            (d) notify each seller of such Registrable Securities, at any time
      when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the
      Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the
      prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue
      statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the
      statements therein not misleading, and, at the request of any such seller,
      the Company will prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so
      that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such Registrable
      Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
      material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements
      therein not misleading;

                                       48
<PAGE>
            (e) use its best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to
      be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued
      by the Company are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on the
      NASD automated quotation system and, if listed on the NASD automated
      quotation system, use its best efforts to secure designation of all such
      Registrable Securities covered by such registration statements as a NASDAQ
      "national market system security" within the meaning of Rule 11Aa2-1 of
      the Securities and Exchange Commission or, failing that, to secure NASDAQ
      authorization for such Registrable Securities;

            (f) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable
      Securities not later than the effective date of such registration
      statement;

            (g) enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting
      agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the
      holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the
      underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or
      facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

            (h) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable
      Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
      such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent
      retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other
      records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and
      cause the Company's officers, directors, employees and independent
      accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
      seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
      registration statement subject to any applicable confidentiality
      obligations owing to the Company and the other parties to any such
      registration;

            (i) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
      rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security
      holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering
      the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the
      Company's first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the
      registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
      provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

            (j) permit any holder of Registrable Securities which holder, in its
      sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a
      controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of
      such registration or comparable statement and to require the insertion
      therein of material, furnished to the Company in writing, which in the
      reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should be included; and

            (k) in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the
      effectiveness of a registration statement, or of any order suspending or
      preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the
      qualification of any shares of Common Stock included in such registration
      statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company will use its
      reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order.
      If any such registration or comparable statement refers to any holder by
      name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company and if in
      its sole and exclusive judgment such

                                       49
<PAGE>
      holder is or might be deemed to be a controlling person of the Company,
      such holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of
      language, in form and substance satisfactory to such holder and presented
      to the Company in writing, to the effect that the holding by such holder
      of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such
      holder of the investment quality of the Company's securities covered
      thereby and that such holding does not imply that such holder will assist
      in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, (ii) in the
      event that such reference to such holder by name or otherwise is not
      required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in
      force, the deletion of the reference to such holder; provided that with
      respect to this clause (ii) such holder shall furnish to the Company an
      opinion of counsel to such effect, which opinion and counsel shall be
      reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

      11.5 REGISTRATION EXPENSES. All expenses incident to the Company's
performance of or compliance with this Article 11, including without limitation
all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with
securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses,
and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent
certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding discounts and commissions)
and other Persons retained by the Company (all such expenses, excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions, being herein called "Registration
Expenses"), will be borne by the Company. The Company will bear the cost of one
set of counsel for the holders of Registrable Securities participating in any
Piggyback Registration or Demand Registration. All underwriting discounts and
commissions will be borne by the seller of the securities sold pursuant to the
registration.

      11.6 INDEMNIFICATION.

            (a) In connection with any registration of Registrable Securities
      under the Securities Act, the Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent
      permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and
      directors and each Person who controls such holder (within the meaning of
      the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
      expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact
      contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary
      prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission
      or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
      necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as
      the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in
      writing to the Company by such holder expressly for use therein or
      required by such holder to be included therein pursuant to Section 11.4(j)
      of this Agreement or by such holder's failure to deliver a copy of the
      registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements
      thereto after the Company has furnished such holder with a sufficient
      number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering,
      the Company will indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors
      and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the
      Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
      indemnification of the holders of Registrable Securities.

            (b) In connection with any registration statement in which a holder
      of Registrable Securities is participating, each such holder will furnish
      to the Company in

                                       50
<PAGE>
      writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests
      for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus
      and, to the extent permitted by law, will indemnify the Company, its
      directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within
      the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages,
      liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue
      statement of material fact contained in the registration statement,
      prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or
      supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
      not misleading but only to the extent that such untrue statement or
      omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in
      writing by such holder or required by such holder to be included therein
      pursuant to Section 11.4(j) of this Agreement. In connection with an
      underwritten offering, the holders of the Registrable Securities will
      indemnify the underwriters, such directors and officers and such Persons
      who control the underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to
      the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of
      the Company.

            (c) Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give
      prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect
      to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) unless in such indemnified
      party's reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such
      indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim,
      permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with
      counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense
      is assumed or if such defense is not assumed as a result of a conflict of
      interest pursuant to (ii) above, the indemnifying party will not be
      subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party
      without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld).
      An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the
      defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of
      more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying
      party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any
      indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such
      indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect
      to such claim.

            (d) The indemnification provided for under this Agreement will
      remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
      on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling
      Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of
      securities. Each indemnifying party also agrees to make such provisions,
      as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party, for contribution to
      such party in the event the indemnifying party's indemnification is
      unavailable for any reason.

      11.7 PARTICIPATION IN UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. No Person may
participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten unless such
Person (a) agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder
to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided that no
holder of Registrable Securities included in any underwritten registration shall
be required to make any

                                       51
<PAGE>
representations or warranties to the Company or the underwriters other than
representations and which are customarily in such underwriting arrangements.

      11.8 OTHER RIGHTS. The Company will not grant to any Person any
registration rights after the date hereof, unless such rights are fully
subordinated to the registration rights of the holders of Registrable Securities
provided herein.

                                   ARTICLE 12

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      12.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns, except that (a) none of the Loan Parties may assign or transfer its
rights hereunder or any interest herein or delegate its duties hereunder without
the prior written consent of Purchasers and (b) and each Purchaser shall have
the right to assign its rights hereunder and under the Securities; provided that
such assignee agrees to execute or be subject to that certain Intercreditor
Agreement (the "Intercreditor Agreement") dated the date hereof by and between
ACS and TIAA or an agreement with substantially similar terms and conditions to
the Intercreditor Agreement.

      12.2 MODIFICATIONS, AMENDMENTS OR WAIVERS. The provisions of this
Agreement may be modified, amended or waived, but only by a written instrument
signed by each of the Loan Parties and Purchasers and to the extent such
modification, amendment or waiver relates to the Notes or the Warrants, by prior
written consent of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Notes or holders of a majority of the Warrants, as applicable;
provided that no such action will change (a) the rate at which, or the manner in
which, interest accrues on the Notes or the times at which such interest becomes
payable, (b) any provision relating to the scheduled payments or prepayments of
principal on the Notes, or (c) this Section 12.2 without the written consent of
all holders of the relevant Notes.

      12.3 NO IMPLIED WAIVERS; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES; WRITING REQUIRED. No delay
or failure in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall affect or
operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or
any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or
remedy preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or
remedy. The rights and remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive of
any rights or remedies which Purchasers or any holder of Notes would otherwise
have. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character of any
breach or default under this Agreement or any such waiver of any provision or
condition of this Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to
the extent in such writing specifically set forth.

      12.4 REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES; TAXES. Subject to the provisions of
Section 11.5, the Loan Parties, jointly and severally, upon demand shall pay or
reimburse each Purchaser for all reasonable fees and expenses incurred or
payable by such Purchaser (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
expenses of special counsel for such Purchaser), from time to time (a) arising
in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement,
the Notes, the other Note Documents and all other instruments and documents to
be delivered

                                       52
<PAGE>
hereunder or thereunder or arising in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereunder or thereunder, (b) relating to any amendments, waivers or
consents pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof, and (c) arising in
connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or collection of the Notes.
The Loan Parties, jointly and severally, agree to pay and save each Purchaser
harmless from all liability for any stamp, transfer or other similar taxes which
may be payable in connection with this Agreement or the performance of any
transactions contemplated hereby.

      12.5 HOLIDAYS. Whenever any payment or action to be made or taken
hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a
Business Day, such payment or action shall be made or taken on the next
following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be included in
computing interest or fees, if any, in connection with such payment or action.

      12.6 NOTICES. All notices and other communications given to or made upon
any party hereto in connection with this Agreement shall, except as otherwise
expressly herein provided, be in writing (including telecopy, but in such case,
a confirming copy will be sent by another permitted means) and mailed via
certified mail, telecopied or delivered by guaranteed overnight parcel express
service or courier to the respective parties, as follows:

         to the Loan Parties:

              Cornell Companies, Inc.
              1700 West Loop South, Suite 1500
              Houston, Texas  77027
              Attn:  John L. Hendrix
              Telecopier:  713-335-9290

         to ACS:

              American Capital Strategies, Ltd.
              2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1400
              Bethesda, Maryland  20814
              Attn:  President
              Telecopier:  (301) 654-6714

         with a copy to:

              American Capital Strategies, Ltd.
              2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 400
              Dallas, Texas  75204
              Attn:  Darin Winn
              Telecopier:  214-665-9528

                                       53
<PAGE>
         with a copy to:

              Patton Boggs LLP
              2001 Ross Avenue
              Suite 3000
              Dallas, Texas  75201
              Attn:  Charles P. Miller, Esq.
              Telecopier:  (214) 758-1550

         to TIAA:

              Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
              Securities Division - Private Placement
              730 Third Avenue
              New York, New York  10017
              Attn:  Estelle Simsolo
              Telecopier:  212-916-5682

or in accordance with any subsequent written direction from the recipient party
to the sending party. All such notices and other communications shall, except as
otherwise expressly herein provided, be effective upon delivery if delivered by
courier or overnight parcel express service; in the case of certified mail,
three (3) Business Days after the date sent; or in the case of telecopy, when
received.

      12.7 SURVIVAL. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
of the Loan Parties contained herein or made in writing in connection herewith
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the purchase of
the Notes and the Warrants and shall continue in full force and effect so long
as any Note or Warrant is outstanding and until payment in full of all of the
Loan Parties' obligations hereunder or thereunder.

      12.8 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES.

      12.9 JURISDICTION, CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.

            (a) THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMIT, FOR
      THEMSELVES AND THEIR PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY
      TEXAS STATE COURT OR FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING
      IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY
      ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE
      NOTES OR ANY OTHER PURCHASE DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF
      ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
      UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
      ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE

                                       54
<PAGE>
      HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH TEXAS OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN
      SUCH FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. EACH OF THE PARTIES
      HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL
      BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE
      JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

            (b) THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE, TO THE
      FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION THAT
      THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION
      OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR
      ANY OTHER PURCHASE DOCUMENT IN ANY TEXAS OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE
      STATE OF TEXAS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO
      THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM
      TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

            (c) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF
      PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 12.6 HEREOF. NOTHING
      IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT TO
      SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

      12.10 JURY TRIAL WAIVER. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING (I) TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS
UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, OR (II) ARISING FROM ANY DISPUTE OR
CONTROVERSY IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT ANY
SUCH ACTION OR COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

      12.11 SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law in any jurisdiction, such provision shall be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating any other provision of this Agreement.

      12.12 HEADINGS. Article, section and subsection headings in this Agreement
are included for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part
of this Agreement for any other purpose.

      12.13 INDEMNITY. Subject to the indemnification provisions of Section
11.6, the Loan Parties, jointly and severally, hereby agree to indemnify, defend
and hold harmless each Purchaser and its officers, directors, employees, agents
and representatives, and its respective successors and assigns in connection
with any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, to which such Purchaser may become subject (other than as a
result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any such Person),
insofar as such losses,

                                       55
<PAGE>
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
by reason of any investigation, litigation or other proceedings related to or
resulting from any act of, or omission by, any of the Loan Parties or its
Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of any of
the Loan Parties or its Affiliates with respect to the Notes, Charter Documents,
the Bylaws or any agreements entered into in connection with any such
agreements, instruments or documents and to reimburse such Purchaser and each
such Person and Affiliate, upon demand, for any legal or other expenses incurred
in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action. To the extent that the foregoing undertakings may
be unenforceable for any reason, each of the Loan Parties agrees to make the
maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of indemnified liabilities
set forth in this Section 12.13 which is permissible under applicable law. THE
FOREGOING INDEMNITY INDEMNIFIES PURCHASERS FROM THEIR OWN NEGLIGENCE.

      12.14 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by either party hereto on separate counterparts, each of which,
when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

      12.15 INTEGRATION. This Agreement and the other Note Documents set forth
the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to all matters
contemplated hereby and supersede all previous agreements and understandings
among them concerning such matters. No statements or agreements, oral or
written, made prior to or at the signing hereof, shall vary, waive or modify the
written terms hereof.

      12.16 THE COMPANY AS AGENT AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT. Each of the Loan Parties
other than the Company hereby appoints the Company as its agent and
attorney-in-fact for all purposes hereunder and under all of the other Note
Documents. Such appointment shall be irrevocable and coupled with an interest
and each Purchaser shall be entitled to rely unconditionally on any writing or
other communication that it receives purporting to be delivered pursuant
thereto.

      12.17 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each Purchaser agrees (on behalf of itself and each
of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees and representatives) to use
reasonable precautions to keep confidential, in accordance with their customary
procedures for handling confidential information of the same nature and in
accordance with safe and sound banking practices, any non-public information
supplied to it by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, provided that nothing
herein shall limit the disclosure of any such information (i) to the extent
required by statute, rule, regulation or judicial process, (ii) to counsel for
any of the Purchasers, (iii) to bank examiners, auditors or accountants, (iv) to
the Purchasers, (v) in connection with any litigation to which any one or more
of the Purchasers is a party relating to any of the Loan Parties or the
transactions contemplated hereby, (vi) to a subsidiary or affiliate of such
Purchaser or (vii) to any assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or
participant) so long as such assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or
participant) first executes and delivers to the respective Purchaser a
confidentiality agreement in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto; provided,
further, that in no event shall any Purchaser be obligated or required to return
any materials furnished by the Company.

                                       56
<PAGE>
                             *          *          *

                                       57
<PAGE>
                                SIGNATURE PAGE TO
                       NOTE AND EQUITY PURCHASE AGREEMENT

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

                                  LOAN PARTIES:

                                  CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF TEXAS, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF OKLAHOMA, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

Note and Equity Purchase Agreement
<PAGE>
                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF GEORGIA, L.P.

                                  By: CCGI Corporation, its general partner

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF ALASKA, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL ABRAXAS GROUP, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  WBP LEASING, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL INTERVENTIONS, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                CCGI CORPORATION

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

Note and Equity Purchase Agreement
<PAGE>
                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS CONSULTING, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  THE CORNELL COX GROUP, L.P.

                                  By: Cornell Corrections of North America, Inc.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                  INTERNATIONAL SELF HELP SERVICES, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

Note and Equity Purchase Agreement
<PAGE>
                                  PURCHASER:

                                  AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES,
                                    LTD.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      Roland Cline
                                      Vice President

                                  PURCHASER:

                                  TEACHERS INSURANCE and ANNUITY
                                  ASSOCIATION of AMERICA

                                  By: _______________________
                                      Estelle Simsolo
                                      Director - Private Placement

Note and Equity Purchase Agreement
<PAGE>
                                     ANNEX A

                       INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS

NAME AND ADDRESS                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
OF PURCHASER                              NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
----------------                          ---------------------

AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD.         Notes
2 Bethesda Metro Center                   $30,000,000
Suite 1400
Bethesda, MD  20814

                                          Warrants to Purchase
                                          217,778 Shares of Common Stock

TEACHERS INSURANCE AND                    Notes
ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA            $10,000,000
730 Third Avenue
New York, New York  10017
                                          Warrants to Purchase
                                          72,592 Shares of
                                          Common Stock

All Notes of ACS will be assigned to:

ACS FUNDING TRUST I
c/o AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD.,
as Servicer
2 Bethesda Metro Center
Suite 1400
Bethesda, MD  20814

(1)   All payments:

      For ACS, if by wire:

            Account Name:  ACS Funding Trust I
            Account #: 8601046967
            Bank:  LaSalle National Bank, Chicago
            ABA #: 071000505

<PAGE>
      If by mail:

            ACS Funding Trust I
            135 South LaSalle Street, Dept 4522
            Chicago, Illinois  60674-4522

      If by overnight parcel service (e.g., FedEx, UPS, etc):

            ACS Funding Trust I
            200 West Monroe Street, Suite 200
            Chicago, Illinois  60606
            Attn:  ACS Funding Trust I, Dept. 4522

      with sufficient information
      to identify the source and
      application of such funds.

For TIAA, if by wire:

            Account Name:  Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association
            Account #900-9-000200
            Bank:  Chase Manhattan Bank
            ABA #021-000-021
            For Further Credit to: G07040
            On order of Cornell Companies, Inc.
            CUSIP #

      with sufficient information
      to identify the source and
      application of such funds,
      including the full name, CUSIP
      number and coupon on the Note,
      allocation of payment between
      principal, interest, premium and
      any special payment.

<PAGE>
(2)   All notices of payments and
      written confirmations of
      such wire transfers:

      For ACS:

            American Capital Strategies, Ltd., as Servicer
            2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1400
            Bethesda, Maryland  20814
            Attn:  Comptroller
            Telecopier:  (301) 654-6714

      For TIAA:

            Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
            730 Third Avenue
            New York, NY  10017-3206
            ATTN:  Securities Accounting Division
            Telephone:  (212) 916-6004
            Fax:  (212) 916-6955

(3)   All other communications:

      If to ACS:

            American Capital Strategies, Ltd., as Servicer
            2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1400
            Bethesda, Maryland  20814
            Attn:  President
            Telecopier:  (301) 654-6714

            and to:

            American Capital Strategies, Ltd.
            2626 Cole Avenue, Suite 400
            Dallas, Texas  75204
            Attn: Darin Winn
            Telecopier:  (214) 665-9528

If to TIAA:

            TEACHERS INSURANCE and ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
            730 Third Avenue
            New York, New York  10017
            Attn:  Estelle Simsolo
            Telecopier:  (212) 916-5682

<PAGE>
            And to:

            TEACHERS INSURANCE and ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
            730 Third Avenue
            New York, New York  10017
            Attn:  Larry Archibald
            Telecopier:  (212) 916-6582

<PAGE>
                                     ANNEX B

                              LIST OF LOAN PARTIES

Cornell Companies, Inc.
Cornell Corrections Management, Inc.
Cornell Corrections of Texas, Inc.
Cornell Corrections of California, Inc.
Cornell Corrections of Rhode Island, Inc.
Cornell Corrections of Oklahoma, Inc.
Cornell Corrections of Georgia, L.P.
Cornell Corrections of Alaska, Inc.
Cornell Abraxas Group, Inc.
WBP Leasing, Inc.
Cornell Interventions, Inc.
CCGI Corporation
Cornell Corrections Consulting, Inc.
The Cornell Cox Group, L.P.
Cornell Corrections of North America, Inc.
International Self Help Services, Inc.

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A                                 Form of Senior Subordinated Note
EXHIBIT B                                 Form of Warrant
EXHIBIT C                                 Form of Confidentiality Agreement
EXHIBIT H                                 Form of Compliance Certificate

                                    SCHEDULES

"Corporate Schedule"                      (Section 5.1(a))
"Litigation Schedule"                     (Section 5.1(j)
"Environmental Schedule"                  (Section 5.1(m))
 "Use of Proceeds Schedule"               (Section 5.1(n))
"Properties Schedule"                     (Section 5.1(r))
"Permitted Indebtedness Schedule"         (Section 7.2(a))
 "Permitted Liens Schedule"               (Section 7.2(b)(ii))
"Advance and Loan Terms and Conditions"   (Section 7.2(h))

                                     ANNEXES

Annex A                                   Purchaser Information
Annex B                                   List of Loan PartiesEXHIBIT 10.4

      THIS WARRANT WAS ISSUED ON JULY 21st, 2000 AND SUCH ISSUANCE WAS NOT
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE TRANSFER OF THIS
WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES OBTAINABLE UPON EXERCISE THEREOF IS SUBJECT TO THE
CONDITIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN SECTION 6 OF THIS WARRANT AND THE COMPANY
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITY UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS
HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH TRANSFER.

                                     WARRANT

Date of Issuance:  July 21, 2000                           Certificate No. W-1

                                                           CUSIP No. 219141 11 6

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, CORNELL COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby grants to AMERICAN CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LTD., or its
registered assigns (the "Registered Holder") the right to purchase from the
Company 217,778 shares (as adjusted from time to time hereunder, the "Exercise
Shares"), of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock"), at a
price per share of $6.70 (as adjusted from time to time hereunder, the "Exercise
Price"). This Warrant is one of one or more Warrants (collectively, the
"Warrants") originally issued by the Company to certain investors on July 21,
2000. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 4 hereof.
Certain capitalized terms used and not defined herein are defined in the Note
and Equity Purchase Agreement dated as of July 21, 2000 (as amended from time to
time, the "Purchase Agreement") by and among the Company, its subsidiaries named
therein, and the Purchasers (as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement).
The amount and kind of securities purchasable pursuant to the rights granted
hereunder are subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions contained in this
Warrant.

      This Warrant is subject to the following provisions:

      Section 1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

      1A. EXERCISE PERIOD. The Registered Holder may exercise, in whole or in
part (but not as to a fractional share of Common Stock), the purchase rights
represented by this Warrant at any time and from time to time, to and including
the date that is the seventh (7th) anniversary of the original date of issuance
(the "Exercise Period").

            (i) EXERCISE PROCEDURE. This Warrant will be deemed to have been
exercised when the Company has received all of the following items (the
"Exercise Time"):

                                       1
<PAGE>
                  (a) A completed Exercise Agreement, as described in Paragraph
1B below, executed by the Person exercising all or part of the purchase rights
represented by this Warrant (the "Purchaser");

                  (b) this Warrant;

                  (c) if this Warrant is not registered in the name of the
initial Registered Holder, an assignment or assignments in the form set forth in
EXHIBIT II hereto evidencing the assignment of this Warrant to the Purchaser and
all additional items required to comply with the provisions set forth in Section
6 hereof; and

                  (d) at the Registered Holder's option, (1) wire transfer of
funds to an account designated by the Company or a check payable to the Company
in an amount equal to the product of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number
of shares of Common Stock being purchased upon such exercise (the "Aggregate
Exercise Price") or (2) cancellation of any debt and/or accrued but unpaid
interest owed by the Company to the Registered Holder in the amount of the
Aggregate Exercise Price.

            (ii) Certificates for shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise
of this Warrant will be delivered by the Company to the Purchaser within ten
Business Days after the date of the Exercise Time. Unless this Warrant has
expired or all of the purchase rights represented hereby have been exercised,
the Company will prepare a new Warrant, substantially identical hereto,
representing the rights formerly represented by this Warrant which have not
expired or been exercised and will, within such ten-day period, deliver such new
Warrant to the Person designated for delivery in the Exercise Agreement.

            (iii) The Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant
will be deemed to have been issued to the Purchaser at the Exercise Time, and
the Purchaser will be deemed for all purposes to have become the record holder
of such Common Stock at the Exercise Time.

            (iv) The issuance of certificates for shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of this Warrant will be made without charge to the Registered Holder or
the Purchaser for any issuance tax in respect thereof or other cost incurred by
the Company in connection with such exercise and the related issuance of shares
of Common Stock; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the
issuance of any Warrant or certificates for shares of Common Stock upon exercise
of the Warrant in a name other than that of the Purchaser. Each share of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant will, upon payment of the Exercise
Price therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable and free from all liens and
charges with respect to the issuance thereof.

            (v) The Company will from time to time take all such action as may
be necessary to assure that the par value per share of the unissued Common Stock
acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant is at all times equal to or less than
the Exercise Price then in effect.

            (vi) The Company shall assist and cooperate with any Registered
Holder or Purchaser required to make any governmental filings or obtain any
governmental approvals prior

                                       2
<PAGE>
to or in connection with any exercise of this Warrant (including, without
limitation, making any filings required to be made by the Company).

            (vii) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if an exercise of
any portion of this Warrant is to be made in connection with a public offering
or sale of the Company, the exercise of any portion of this Warrant may, at the
election of the holder hereof, be conditioned upon the consummation of the
public offering or sale of the Company in which case such exercise shall not be
deemed to be effective until the consummation of such transaction.

            (viii) The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out
of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of
issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants, the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding Warrants. All shares of Common
Stock that are so issuable shall, when issued upon payment of the Exercise Price
therefor, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from
all taxes, liens and charges. The Company shall use its best efforts to assure
that all such shares of Common Stock may be so issued without violation of any
applicable law or governmental regulation or any requirements of any domestic
securities exchange upon which shares of Common Stock may be listed (except for
official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company
upon each such issuance).

      1B. EXERCISE AGREEMENT. Upon any exercise of this Warrant, the Exercise
Agreement will be substantially in the form set forth in EXHIBIT I hereto,
except that if the shares of Common Stock are not to be issued in the name of
the Person in whose name this Warrant is registered, the Exercise Agreement will
also state the name and address of the Person to whom the certificates for the
shares of Common Stock are to be issued, and if the number of shares of Common
Stock to be issued does not include all the shares of Common Stock purchasable
hereunder, it will also state the name and address of the Person to whom a new
Warrant for the unexercised portion of the rights hereunder is to be delivered
and will be accompanied by an assignment in the form set forth in EXHIBIT II.
Such Exercise Agreement will be dated the actual date of execution thereof.

      1C. FRACTIONAL SHARES. If a fractional share of Common Stock would, but
for the provisions of Paragraph 1A, be issuable upon exercise of the rights
represented by this Warrant, the Company will, within ten Business Days after
the date of the Exercise Time, deliver to the Purchaser a check payable to the
Purchaser in lieu of such fractional share in an amount equal to the difference
between Fair Market Value of such fractional share as of the date of the
Exercise Time and the Exercise Price of such fractional share.

      Section 2. ADJUSTMENT OF NUMBER OF EXERCISE SHARES. In order to prevent
dilution of the rights granted under this Warrant, the number of Exercise Shares
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 2.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2, no adjustment shall be
made to the number of Exercise Shares if such adjustment represents less than 1%
of the number of Exercise Shares previously required to be delivered, but any
lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time and
together with the next subsequent adjustment which together with any adjustments
so carried forward shall amount to 1% or more of the number of Exercise Shares
to be so delivered.

                                       3
<PAGE>
      2A. ADJUSTMENT OF NUMBER OF EXERCISE SHARES UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK OR STOCK EQUIVALENTS. Except as provided in Paragraphs 2C and 2D
and Section 3, if and whenever on or after the Closing Date, the Company issues
or sells, or in accordance with Paragraph 2B is deemed to have issued or sold,
any shares of Common Stock for a consideration per share of Common Stock less
than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of such issue
or sale, then forthwith upon such issue or sale, the number of Exercise Shares
will be increased by multiplying such number by a fraction, (A) the numerator of
which is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of such
issue or sale and (B) the denominator of which is the amount determined by
dividing (a) the sum of (1) the product derived by multiplying the Fair Market
Value per share of Common Stock at the time of such issue or sale times the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on a Fully Diluted Basis
immediately prior to such issue or sale, plus (2) the aggregate consideration,
if any, received by the Company upon such issue or sale, by (b) the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding on a Fully Diluted Basis immediately after
such issue or sale.

      2B. EFFECT ON EXERCISE SHARES OF CERTAIN EVENTS. For purposes of
determining the adjusted Exercise Shares of Common Stock under Paragraph 2A
above, the following will be applicable:

            (i) ISSUANCE OF STOCK EQUIVALENTS. If the Company in any manner
grants or issues Stock Equivalents and the lowest price per share of Common
Stock for which shares of Common Stock of the Company or analogous economic
rights are issuable upon the exercise of any such Stock Equivalent is less than
the Fair Market Value at the time of the granting or issuing of such Stock
Equivalent, then such shares of Common Stock will be deemed to have been issued
and sold by the Company for such price per share of Common Stock. For purposes
of this Paragraph, the "lowest price per share of Common Stock for which shares
of Common Stock or analogous economic rights are issuable" will be equal to the
sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by
the Company with respect to a specific share of Common Stock or analogous
economic right upon the exercise of the Stock Equivalent (whether by conversion,
exchange or otherwise) or other similar indication of the price per share of
Common Stock as of the time of granting (such as the floor value for stock
appreciation rights). No further adjustment of the Exercise Shares will be made
upon the actual issue of such shares of Common Stock or upon the exercise of any
rights under the Stock Equivalents.

            (ii) CHANGE IN OPTION PRICE OR CONVERSION RATE. If the purchase
price provided for in any Stock Equivalent, the additional consideration, if
any, payable upon the issue, conversion or exchange of any Stock Equivalent, or
the rate at which any Stock Equivalent is convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of Common Stock changes at any time, the Exercise Shares in effect at the
time of such change will be readjusted without duplication to the Exercise
Shares which would have been in effect at such time had such Stock Equivalent
still outstanding provided for such changed purchase price, additional
consideration or changed conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time
initially granted, issued or sold.

            (iii) TREATMENT OF EXPIRED AND UNEXERCISED STOCK EQUIVALENTS. Upon
the expiration of any Stock Equivalent or the termination of any right to
convert or exchange any Stock Equivalent without the exercise of such Stock
Equivalent, the Exercise Shares then in effect will be adjusted to the Exercise
Shares which would have been in effect at the time of such

                                       4
<PAGE>
expiration or termination had such Stock Equivalent, to the extent outstanding
immediately prior to such expiration or termination, never been issued.

            (iv) CALCULATION OF CONSIDERATION RECEIVED. If any shares of Common
Stock or Stock Equivalents are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or
sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net
amount received by the Company (before deduction of underwriting expenses). In
case any shares of Common Stock or Stock Equivalents are issued or sold for a
consideration other than cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash
received by the Company will be the Fair Market Value of such consideration. In
case any shares of Common Stock or Stock Equivalents are issued to the owners of
the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is
the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be
the Fair Market Value of such portion of the net assets and business of the
non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock or Stock
Equivalents, as the case may be.

            (v) INTEGRATED TRANSACTIONS. In case any Stock Equivalent is issued
in connection with the issue or sale of other securities of the Company,
together comprising one integrated transaction in which no specific
consideration is allocated to such Stock Equivalent by the parties thereto, the
Stock Equivalent will be deemed to have been issued without consideration.

            (vi) RECORD DATE. If the Company takes a record of the holders of
Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or
other distribution payable in Common Stock, or Stock Equivalents or (B) to
subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Stock Equivalents, then such record
date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common
Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend
or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such
right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

      2C. SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF COMMON STOCK. If the Company at any time
subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise)
one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares, the Exercise Shares in effect immediately prior to such
subdivision will be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time
combines (by reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise
Shares in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately
decreased.

      2D. CAPITAL REORGANIZATION OR CAPITAL RECLASSIFICATION. Any
recapitalization, capital reorganization, or capital reclassification not
involving a third party is referred to herein as "Organic Change." Prior to the
consummation of any Organic Change, the Company will make appropriate provision
(as determined by the Board of Directors, but in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Registered Holders of the Warrants representing a majority
of the Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of all Warrants then outstanding)
to insure that each of the Registered Holders of the Warrants will thereafter
have the right to acquire and receive in lieu of or addition to (as the case may
be) the shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore acquirable and receivable
upon the exercise of such holder's Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or
assets as may be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number
of

                                       5
<PAGE>
shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore acquirable and receivable upon
exercise of such holder's Warrant had such Organic Change not taken place. In
any such case, the Company will make appropriate provision (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Registered Holders of the Warrants representing a
majority of the Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of all Warrants then
outstanding) with respect to such holders' rights and interests to insure that
the provisions of this Section 2 and Section 3 hereof will thereafter be
applicable to the Warrants

      2E. NOTICES.

            (i) Immediately upon any adjustment of the Exercise Shares, the
Company will give written notice thereof to the Registered Holder, setting forth
in reasonable detail and certifying the calculation of such adjustment.

            (ii) The Company will give written notice to the Registered Holder
at least 5 days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes
a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Stock,
(B) with respect to any pro rata subscription offer to holders of Common Stock
or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Organic Change or
Significant Event (as defined in Section 3 below).

            (iii) The Company will also give written notice to the Registered
Holders at least 10 days prior to the date on which any Organic Change or
Significant Event will take place.

      2F. EXCLUDED TRANSACTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 2, no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 2 in respect of
the issuance of Excluded Securities.

      Section 3. SIGNIFICANT EVENT. In the event of a potential liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, or a potential merger or consolidation of the
Company with, or a potential sale or other disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of its assets to a third party not now affiliated with the
Company other than a potential merger or consolidation in which the Company is
the continuing entity or in which the Initial Directors constitute a majority of
the Board of Directors of the continuing entity after the potential merger or
consolidation (any such liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or sale
being referred to herein as a "Significant Event"), then the Registered Holder
of this Warrant shall have the option of either exercising this Warrant prior to
the Significant Event effective immediately upon exercise, or exercising this
Warrant contingent upon the actual occurrence of the Significant Event. The
Company shall give the Registered Holder written notice of the date on which the
Significant Event will occur at least 10 days before the date by which the
Registered Holder must exercise this Warrant, i.e., the date on which the
Significant Event actually occurs. This notice, if given, shall be the only
notice of the Significant Event that the Company is required to give to the
Registered Holder. Upon the actual occurrence of the Significant Event this
Warrant shall immediately terminate for all purposes. Failure of the Registered
Holder to exercise timely this Warrant upon receiving notice of a Significant
Event shall not constitute a breach of any obligation of the Registered Holder
under this Warrant, the only consequence of such failure being that the
Registered Holder's rights under this Warrant shall expire upon the actual
occurrence of the Significant Event. If the potential Significant Event does not
in fact occur for any reason, then the Registered Holder will not be required to
exercise this Warrant.

                                       6
<PAGE>
      Section 4. DEFINITIONS. The following terms have meanings set forth below:

      "COMMON STOCK" means, collectively, Common Stock and, except for purposes
of the shares obtainable upon exercise of this Warrant, any capital stock of any
class of the Company hereafter authorized that is not limited to a fixed sum or
percentage of par or stated value in respect to the rights of the holders
thereof to participate in dividends or in the distribution of assets upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

      "EXCLUDED SECURITIES" means:

            (i) shares of Common Stock issued upon (A) exercise of the Warrants
or (b) exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to that certain Warrant Issuance
Agreement dated as of October 14, 1999 between the Company and the investors
listed therein;

            (ii)  securities  issued by the Company in an underwritten  public
offering;

            (iii) securities issued pursuant to the direct or indirect bona fide
acquisition by the Company of any Person, whether by merger, purchase of stock,
purchase of assets or otherwise;

            (iv) securities issued upon exercise of any Stock Equivalent,
provided that the Stock Equivalents (A) are outstanding on the date hereof or
(B) granted in connection with any bona fide financing transaction; and

            (v) Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock or the Common
Stock issued upon the exercise of any such options; provided, however, that (A)
such Common Stock or options shall be issued pursuant to a written plan or
agreement either in effect on the date hereof or hereafter, in each case
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof and (B)
such Common Stock or options shall be issued or granted for consideration per
share that is not less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
the date of issue or grant of the Common Stock or options, as appropriate.

      "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of any security means the average of the closing
prices of such security's sales on all securities exchanges on which such
security may at the time be listed, or, if there has been no sales on any such
exchange on any day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on
all such exchanges at the end of each day, or, if on any day such security is
not so listed, the average of the representative bid and asked prices quoted on
the New York Stock Exchange as of 4:00 P.M., New York time, or, if on any day
such security is not so listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the average of
the representative bid and asked prices quoted in the NASDAQ System as of 4:00
P.M., New York time, or, if on any day such security is not quoted in the NASDAQ
System, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on such day in
the domestic over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation
Bureau, Incorporated, or any similar successor organization, in each such case
as of the applicable date. If at any time such security is not listed on any
securities exchange or quoted in the NASDAQ System or the over-the-counter
market, the "Fair Market Value" shall be the fair value therefor determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the determination of Fair Market Value is being made for purposes
of Section 2 as a result of an issuance of any securities by the Company
pursuant to an underwritten public

                                       7
<PAGE>
offering, then the Fair Market Value will be the net amount received by the
Company (before deduction of underwriting expenses) in connection with that
underwritten public offering.

      "FULLY DILUTED BASIS" means, at any given time, fully diluted as
calculated in accordance with GAAP, and includes the Exercise Shares.

      "PERSON" means an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a
corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any
department or agency thereof.

      "STOCK EQUIVALENTS" means any option, warrant, right or similar security
or claim exercisable into, exchangeable for, or convertible to shares of Common
Stock or the economic equivalent value of shares of Common Stock (including, by
way of illustration, stock appreciation rights).

      Section 5. RIGHTS OF REGISTERED HOLDERS.

            5A. NO VOTING RIGHTS; LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. This Warrant will
not entitle the holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a
stockholder of the Company. No provision hereof, in the absence of affirmative
action by the Registered Holder to purchase Common Stock, and no enumeration
herein of the rights or privileges of the Registered Holder shall give rise to
any liability of such holder for the Exercise Price of Common Stock acquirable
by exercise hereof or as a stockholder of the Company.

            5B.   REGISTRATION  RIGHTS.  This  Warrant will entitle the holder
hereof to the registration rights,  indemnifications and duties of a holder of
Registrable  Securities (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) as set forth in
Article 11 of the Purchase Agreement.

      Section 6. WARRANT TRANSFERABLE. Subject to the transfer conditions
contained in this Section 6, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are
transferable, in whole or in part (but in no event shall transfers in amounts
representing less than 15,000 Exercise Shares each be permitted), without charge
to the Registered Holder, upon surrender of this Warrant with a properly
executed assignment (in the form of EXHIBIT II hereto) at the principal office
of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay
any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance
of any Warrant or certificates for shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the
Warrant in a name other than that of the Registered Holder of the Warrant or
rights being transferred.

            6A. RESTRICTIONS IN GENERAL. The Registered Holder of the Warrants
agrees that it will neither (i) transfer the Warrants prior to delivery to the
Company of the opinion of counsel referred to in, and to the effect described
in, Paragraph 6B, or until registration hereof under the Securities Act and any
applicable state securities or blue sky laws has become effective, nor (ii)
transfer such Exercise Shares prior to delivery to the Company of the opinion of
counsel referred to in, and to the effect described in, Paragraph 6B, or until
registration of such Exercise Shares under the Securities Act and any applicable
state securities or blue sky laws has become effective.

            6B. ASSIGNMENT; OPINION OF COUNSEL. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, by its acceptance hereof the Registered Holder of the Warrants
agrees that, prior to any

                                       8
<PAGE>
transfer of the Warrants or any transfer of the related Warrant Shares, such
Registered Holder will deliver to the principal office of the Company a properly
executed assignment (in the form of EXHIBIT II hereto), together with a signed
copy of the opinion of such Registered Holder's counsel, concurred in by counsel
to the Company, to the effect that the proposed transfer of the Warrants or the
proposed transfer of the Exercise Shares may be effected without registration
under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or blue sky laws.
The Registered Holder of the Warrants shall then be entitled to transfer the
Warrants or to transfer such Exercise Shares in accordance with the assignment
delivered by such Registered Holder to the Company.

            6C. PERMITTED TRANSFERS. Notwithstanding any provisions contained in
this Warrant to the contrary, this Warrant may be transferred, in whole or in
part, by the Registered Holder hereof without regard to the requirements and
conditions set forth in Paragraphs 6A and 6B above if any such transfer is made
to any entity that is wholly-owned by such Registered Holder and if such
Registered Holder delivers to the principal office of the Company a properly
executed assignment (in the form of EXHIBIT II hereto).

            6D. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. Notwithstanding any other
provisions contained in this Warrant, the Registered Holder hereof understands
and agrees that the following restrictions and limitations shall be applicable
to all Exercise Shares and to all resales or other transfers thereof pursuant to
the Securities Act:

                  (i) The Registered Holder hereof agrees that the Exercise
      Shares shall not be sold or otherwise transferred unless the Exercise
      Shares are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state
      securities or blue sky laws or are exempt therefrom.

                  (ii) A legend in substantially the following form will be
      placed on the certificate(s) evidencing the Exercise Shares:

                  "The shares represented by this certificate have not be
                  registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or under
                  applicable state securities laws. The shares may not be
                  offered, sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of
                  in the absence of an effective registration statement with
                  respect thereto under all applicable securities laws, or an
                  opinion of counsel satisfactory to Cornell Companies, Inc.
                  that such registrations are not required."

            6E. Stop transfer instructions will be imposed with respect to the
Exercise Shares so as to restrict resale or other transfer thereof, subject to
this Section 6.

      Section 7. WARRANT EXCHANGEABLE FOR DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS. This Warrant
is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Registered Holder at the
principal office of the Company, for new Warrants of like tenor representing in
the aggregate the purchase rights hereunder, and each of such new Warrants will
represent such portion of such rights as is designated by the Registered Holder
at the time of such surrender. The date the Company initially issues this
Warrant will be deemed to be the "Date of Issuance" hereof regardless of the
number of times new certificates representing the unexercised rights formerly
represented by this Warrant shall be issued. All Warrants representing portions
of the rights hereunder are referred to herein as the "Warrants."

                                       9
<PAGE>
      Section 8. REPLACEMENT. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to the Company (an affidavit of the Registered Holder will be satisfactory) of
the ownership and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate
evidencing this Warrant, and in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction,
upon receipt of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Company (provided that
if the holder is a creditworthy financial institution or other creditworthy
institutional investor its own indemnification agreement will be satisfactory),
or, in the case of any such mutilation upon surrender of such certificate, the
Company will (at the Registered Holder's expense) execute and deliver in lieu of
such certificate a new certificate of like kind representing the same rights
represented by such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate and dated
the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate.

      Section 9. NOTICES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
notices referred to in this Warrant will be in writing and will be delivered
personally, sent by reputable express courier service (charges prepaid) or sent
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and
will be deemed to have been given when so delivered, one Business Day after
being so sent or three Business Days after being so deposited in the U.S. Mail
(i) to the Company, at its principal executive offices and (ii) to the
Registered Holder of this Warrant, at such holder's address as it appears in the
records of the Company (unless otherwise indicated by any such holder).

      Section 10. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. The provisions of the Warrant may be
amended or waived, but only as provided in Section 2 hereof or pursuant to a
written agreement signed by the Company and the Registered Holders of Warrants
representing a majority of the shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise
of the Warrants; provided that except as provided in Section 2 hereof, no such
action may change the Exercise Price of the Warrants or the number of shares or
class of stock obtainable upon exercise of each Warrant without the written
consent of the Registered Holders of Warrants representing at least 60% of the
shares of Common Stock obtainable upon exercise of the Warrants.

      Section 11. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS; GOVERNING LAW. The descriptive headings
of the several Sections and Paragraphs of this Warrant are inserted for
convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Warrant. The construction,
validity and interpretation of this Warrant will be governed by the internal
law, and not the conflicts law, of the State of Texas.

                                   * * * * * * *

                                       10
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed and
attested by its duly authorized officers under its corporate seal and to be
dated the Date of Issuance hereof.

                                  CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.

                                  By: _______________________
                                      John L. Hendrix
                                      Chief Financial Officer

                                      11                     Warrant Certificate
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT I

                               EXERCISE AGREEMENT

      To:

      Dated:

            The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the
attached Warrant (Certificate No. W-____), hereby agrees to subscribe for the
purchase of ____________ shares of the Common Stock covered by such Warrant and
makes payment herewith in full therefor at the price per share provided by such
Warrant.

            Set forth below is the address and contact person the Company should
send the stock certificate(s) upon the exercise of the attached Warrant and the
new Warrant with the remaining exercisable shares of Common Stock, if any.

                                    Signature _______________________

                                     Address ________________________

                                      -12-               ACS Warrant Certificate
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT II

                                   ASSIGNMENT

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ________________________ hereby sells, assigns,
and transfers all of the rights of the undersigned under the attached Warrant
(Certificate No. W- ) with respect to the number of shares of the Common Stock
covered thereby set forth below, unto:

      NAMES OF ASSIGNEE     ADDRESS     NO. OF SHARES
      -----------------     -------     -------------

                                    Signature ________________________

                                    Date _____________________________

                                      -13-               ACS Warrant Certificate

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