<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001104659-04-025922
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20040825
<ITEMS>8.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20040827
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20040826
<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>041000016
</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>a04-10032_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">

<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

</div>

<p align="center" style="font-family:Times New Roman;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b><font size="5" style="font-size:18.0pt;">  <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE<br>
COMMISSION</font></b></font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT
REPORT</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities
Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report (Date of
earliest event reported):<b><font style="font-weight:bold;"> August 25, 2004 (August
25, 2004)</font></b></font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b></p>

<div align="center">

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:33.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">DELAWARE</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:33.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1-14472</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:33.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">76-0433642</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:33.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(State
  or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></i></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:33.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(Commission
  File Number)</font></i></p>
  </td>
  <td width="33%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:33.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(I.R.S.
  Employer Identification No.)</font></i></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1700 West Loop South,
Suite 1500 <br>
Houston, Texas 77027</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(713)
623-0790</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(Registrant&#146;s
telephone number, including area code)</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<h1 style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Not Applicable</font></b></h1>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in 6.0pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.below):</font></p><p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in 6.0pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Wingdings" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;"> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p><p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in 6.0pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Wingdings" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;"> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p><p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in 6.0pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Wingdings" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p><p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in 6.0pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Wingdings" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>

<div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;"><p style="border:none;color:#000033;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p></div>

<p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></p>
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<p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p><p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.01 Other Events</font></b></p><p style="color:#000033;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" color="black" face="Times New Roman" style="color:windowtext;font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On
August 25, 2004, the Company sent the correspondence attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1 to Pirate Capital LLC.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(c)&#160; Exhibits:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="94%" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:.5in;width:94.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:1.68%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="91%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:91.16%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:1.68%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="91%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:91.16%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:1.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="91%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:91.16%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:1.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="91%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:91.16%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Correspondence dated
  August 25, 2004</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>


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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<h1 style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SIGNATURES</font></b></h1>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;">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>

<p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">CORNELL
  COMPANIES, INC.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:
  August 25, 2004</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="48%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:48.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.2%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="24%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:24.96%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
  Harry J. Phillips, Jr.</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:18.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <h2 style="font-weight:normal;margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;page-break-after:avoid;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></h2>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.2%;">
  <h2 style="font-weight:normal;margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;page-break-after:avoid;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></h2>
  </td>
  <td width="24%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:24.96%;">
  <h2 align="center" style="font-weight:normal;margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 10.0pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Harry J. Phillips, Jr.</font></h2>
  </td>
  <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:18.52%;">
  <h2 style="font-weight:normal;margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;page-break-after:avoid;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></h2>
  </td>
 </tr>
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  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.2%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="24%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:24.96%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 10.0pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chief Executive Officer</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:18.52%;">
  <p style="margin:0in -13.5pt .0001pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<h1 style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;page-break-after:avoid;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></b></h1>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="94%" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:.5in;width:94.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:1.68%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="91%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:91.16%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
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 </tr>
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  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Number</font></b></p>
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="1%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:1.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="91%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:91.16%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:7.18%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Correspondence dated
  August 25, 2004</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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</font></div>

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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit
99.1</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">[Cornell Companies, Inc. Letterhead]</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August 25, 2004</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Via
Telecopy &amp; U.S. Mail</font></u></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mr.
Zachary George</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pirate
Capital LLC</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">200
Connecticut Avenue, 4th Floor</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Norwalk,
CT 06854</font></p>

<p style="margin:12.0pt 0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr. George:</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Since your recent
acquisition of an interest in Cornell, you have increasingly pressed the board
to sell the company.&#160; Yet you do not
know, nor have you tried to learn, the steps Cornell and its board have taken
to explore the company&#146;s strategic alternatives.&#160; After significant consideration, the board
has determined that the sort of &#147;fire sale&#148; you propose would put the board at
much greater risk of a breach of its fiduciary duty.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Cornell&#146;s board of
directors has discussed at length your undated letter and your comments on the
recent earnings conference call.&#160; In your
letter you make two requests: first, that Cornell redeem its rights plan; and
second, that the company publicly announce that it has retained an investment
advisor to explore a sale of the company.&#160;
We would like to respond to these requests.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">First, the board
has determined to not redeem the company&#146;s rights plan at this time.&#160; The board would consider redeeming the rights
plan as part of a value-maximizing transaction for its stockholders.&#160; But in the meantime, the rights plan permits
the board to protect the stockholders against an otherwise unfair transaction.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second, the
company has previously announced that it has engaged a financial advisor to
advise and assist the company in evaluating strategic opportunities.&#160; As communicated on the earnings conference
call, the company and the board have explored a number of opportunities to sell
the company, and have done this with the advice and assistance of a financial
advisor where appropriate.&#160; We remain
open to those possibilities.&#160; But the
board believes that actively shopping the company is not in the best interest
of the company&#146;s stockholders at this time.&#160;
As a result, we will not publicly announce that the company has retained
an investment advisor to explore a sale of the company.&#160; Cornell&#146;s management and its board believe
they are well informed about potential market transactions available to
Cornell.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Finally, I take this opportunity to correct a few of
your misstatements about Cornell.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">You state that no good faith effort has been made to explore a sale of
the company, and that the company has turned away potential purchasers and told
them the company is not for sale.&#160; These
inflammatory statements are demonstrably false.&#160;
Management and the board have spent considerable effort towards this
end.&#160; In fact, we have asked you on
several occasions if you have any proposals that you want to submit for our
consideration.&#160; You have submitted none.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">You have stated that the company has not been
responsive to your requests.&#160; You have
met with me and Mr. Taylor, and you have spoken with Mr.&nbsp;Vagt.&#160; Our directors have shown beyond question that
they are willing to listen very carefully to you and all of the company&#146;s
stockholders.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">To conclude, our
directors are focused on improving the company&#146;s ability to execute its
business plan.&#160; We share this concern
with our stockholders and are working diligently towards this end.&#160; You should expect to see the company take
concrete steps designed to improve its management and the execution of its
business plan.</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please call me if
you would like to discuss any of these matters.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Best regards,</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Harry J. Phillips, Jr.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Copy to:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Cornell Companies, Inc. Board of Directors</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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