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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  NEWS
For Immediate Release
                                  COMPANY CONTACTS:
                                  IRA COTLER (CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION)
                                  EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT-FINANCE
                                  (941) 953-9199

                                  MARK DEMILIO (YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL)
                                  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                  (410) 356-8600
SEPTEMBER 24, 1998


      CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
                                AGREE TO MERGE


      Sarasota, Florida and Owings Mills, Maryland-- Correctional Services
Corporation ("CSC") (NASDAQ NMS:CSCQ) and Youth Services International, Inc.
("YSI") (NASDAQ NMS: YSII) today announced that they have entered into a
definitive merger agreement under which each outstanding share of YSI common
stock will be converted into .375 shares of CSC common stock. Under the merger
agreement, YSI will become a wholly owned subsidiary of CSC.

      The merger will enhance CSC's position as a leading developer and manager
of privatized juvenile and adult correctional and detention facilities in the
United States. On a combined basis, CSC and YSI currently operate 63 programs
with nearly 11,000 beds in 20 states and Puerto Rico.

      "The combination of CSC and YSI creates a company with unmatched
capabilities in the delivery of state of the art juvenile services. The addition
of YSI's transitional and academy oriented programs to CSC's secure programs
will allow us to offer governmental agencies the broadest spectrum of quality
solutions for adjudicated youth, from first time offenders to the most serious
habitual offenders," stated James F. Slattery, CSC's Chairman & CEO. Mr.
Slattery further stated, "Since many of the facilities of each company are in
states not yet serviced by the other, we believe significant new marketing
opportunities will become available. Under the direction of Jim Irving, CSC's
Vice President/Juvenile Justice Division, we are confident our expanded scope of
services will result in enhanced opportunities and accelerated growth. We expect
the transaction to be accretive to our 1999 earnings".

      Commenting on the merger, Timothy P. Cole, YSI's Chairman and CEO stated,
"This merger provides great strategic benefits. Access to resources, quality of
programs and commitment to youth are all greatly enhanced through this
combination."


      This transaction is expected to be accounted for as a pooling-of-interests
and to qualify as a tax-free reorganization. This transaction is subject to
various conditions, including approval by appropriate governmental agencies and
the stockholders of CSC and YSI. The Board of Directors of each company

                                      
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unanimously approved the transaction and recommended its approval by its
stockholders.

      J.C. Bradford & Co., acted as financial advisor to CSC for this
transaction, while SunTrust Equitable Securities represented YSI.

      Correctional Services Corporation is a leading developer and manager of
privatized correctional and detention facilities in the United States. Through
its three divisions; Adult, Juvenile, and Community Corrections the Company
provides a diverse range of programs and services to local, state, and federal
governmental agencies. The Company has 35 contracts to manage facilities in
Florida, New York, Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Washington State,
Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Georgia with an aggregate of 7,914 beds.

Youth Services International Incorporated is headquartered in Owings Mills,
Maryland and provides services to over 3,000 juveniles in 13 states.

      SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995 

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving various
risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the merger will be
consummated. Even if consummated, actual results, including the level of
earnings of both CSC and YSI, and the success of the proposed merger, could
differ materially from those projected due to factors which may include
difficulties in the assimilation of operations, diversification of management's
attention from other business concerns, other acquisition risks, population
fluctuations, market and industry conditions, government funding and
availability of financing. These and other risk factors are outlined in the
reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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