State drops women's prison private program

EAST LYME, Conn. -- State prison officials have dropped a plan to have a private company run a drug treatment and vocational training facility for female inmates.

The New Jersey-based Education and Health Centers of America initially won the roughly $2.2 million contract in 2003 to run the program at the women's prison.

But Attorney General Richard Blumenthal forced correction officials to withdraw the contract after concerns were raised. It was learned that the company had hired a lobbyist close to former Gov. John G. Rowland, contributed to Rowland's campaign and gave a free trip to state officials.