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<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001047469-04-031077
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041013
<ITEMS>1.01
<FILING-DATE>20041013
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041013
<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>041077653
</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>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2144903z8-k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#04HOU1598_1">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
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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>

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

<BR>
<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>

<BR>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>October&nbsp;13, 2004  </B></FONT></P>

<BR>
<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 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 Identification No.</FONT></TD>
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<TD COLSPAN=3 ALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>1700 West Loop South, Suite 1500 Houston, Texas</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Address of Principal Executive Offices</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%" ALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>77027<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Zip Code)</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>(713) 623-0790<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>Registrant's telephone number, including area code </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>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: </FONT></P>

<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#111;</FONT></FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Written
communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17&nbsp;CFR&nbsp;230.425)
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#111;</FONT></FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17&nbsp;CFR&nbsp;240.14a-12)
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#111;</FONT></FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17&nbsp;CFR&nbsp;240.14d-2(b))
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#111;</FONT></FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17&nbsp;CFR&nbsp;240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></DD></DL>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT  </B></FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de1598_item_1.01_entry_into_a_material_definitive_agreement"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_de1598_1"> </A></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2><B>Item 1.01&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement    <BR>    </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On October&nbsp;6, 2004, the Company entered into an amendment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons with respect to the Moshannon Valley Correctional Facility.
Pursuant to the amendment, the Company is required to complete the construction of the facility by March&nbsp;27, 2006. The facility will house 1,300 male inmates. The contract to operate the
facility, which will begin upon receipt of the first inmate, is for three years and the Bureau has the option to grant seven 1-year extensions. The potential contract value for the initial three years
is $111.8&nbsp;million and the facility is scheduled to begin operation in early 2006. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>2</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>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>Dated:
October&nbsp;13, 2004 </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="39%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD COLSPAN=2><FONT SIZE=2>CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.</FONT></TD>
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&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>JOHN R. NIESER</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT SIZE=2>Name:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%"><FONT SIZE=2>John R. Nieser</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="39%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT SIZE=2>Title:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%"><FONT SIZE=2>Treasurer and Acting Chief Financial Officer</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>3</FONT></P>

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<P><br><A NAME="04HOU1598_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de1598_1">Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_jc1598_1">SIGNATURE</A></FONT><BR>
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