<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001047469-02-006070
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20021126
<ITEMS>5
<FILING-DATE>20021206
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CORNELL COMPANIES INC
<CIK>0001016152
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8744
<IRS-NUMBER>760433642
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14472
<FILM-NUMBER>02851465
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1700 WEST LOOP SOUTH
<STREET2>STE 1500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77027
<PHONE>7136230790
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1700 WEST LOOP SOUTH
<STREET2>STE 1500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77027
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CORNELL CORRECTIONS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19960604
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2095721z8-k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#02HOU1890_1">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
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NAME="page_ba1890_1_1"> </A> </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Washington, D.C. 20549  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>FORM 8-K  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=3><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>December&nbsp;5, 2002 (November&nbsp;26, 2002)</B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>CORNELL COMPANIES,&nbsp;INC.<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="32%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Delaware<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>State of Incorporation or<BR>
Organization</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>1-14472<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>Commission File Number</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>76-0433642<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification No.</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="49%" ALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>1700 West Loop South, Suite 1500<BR>
Houston, Texas<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>Address of Principal Executive Offices</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="49%" ALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>77027<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Zip Code)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<TD COLSPAN=3 ALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>(713)&nbsp;623-0790<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>Registrant's telephone number,<BR>
including area code</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Page 1 of 3 Pages</FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de1890_information_to_be_included_in_report"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de1890_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT<BR>    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> <A NAME="de1890_item_5._other_events."> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de1890_2"> </A>
Item 5. Other Events.    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Effective November&nbsp;26, 2002 James H.S. Cooper resigned as a member of the Board of Directors of the Registrant and as a member of the Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors of the Registrant. Mr.&nbsp;Cooper's resignation was not related to a disagreement with the Registrant on any matter relating to the Registrant's operations, policies or
practices. Effective December&nbsp;5, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Registrant appointed Peter A. Leidel to fill the aforementioned vacancy on the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, to
serve in accordance with the Bylaws of the Registrant until his successor is elected and qualified. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Page 2 of 3 Pages</FONT></P>

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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SIGNATURE    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P>

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Dated: December&nbsp;6, 2002</FONT></TD>
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&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD COLSPAN=2><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
CORNELL COMPANIES,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
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&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>JOHN L. HENDRIX</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> John L. Hendrix<BR>
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Page 3 of 3 Pages</FONT></P>

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<P><br><A NAME="02HOU1890_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de1890_1">INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT</A></FONT><BR>
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de1890_2">Item 5. Other Events.</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_jc1890_1">SIGNATURE</A></FONT><BR>
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