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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

MARCH 2, 1999

                        CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
                        AND YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
                               ADJUST MERGER TERMS

       Sarasota, Florida and Owings Mills, Maryland-- Correctional Services
Corporation ("CSC") (NASDAQ NMS:CSCQ) and Youth Services International, Inc.
("YSI") (NASDAQ NMS: YSII) announced today the terms of the previously announced
merger will be adjusted. Youth Services shareholders will now receive .275
shares of Correctional Services stock for each share of Youth Services' stock,
rather than the .375 previously announced. The Board of Directors of each
company has approved the adjusted terms and unanimously recommends its approval
to its shareholders.

       Although Youth Services has been generating increasing revenues and
population levels, the companies agreed to reduce the exchange ratio to reflect
reductions in Youth Services' operating margins.

       "Since the signing of the Merger Agreement, we have been working with
Youth Services' management and certain clients to explore growth opportunities
and areas for margin improvement", stated James F. Slattery, CEO and President
of Correctional Services. "However, in light of Youth Services' reduced
operating margins and recent balance sheet adjustments, we felt compelled to
reevaluate the deal's terms for all shareholders. CSC has developed a detailed
integration plan that addresses these issues and achieves our synergy goals,
which we are ready to implement as soon as the transaction is completed."

       Correctional Services Corporation is a leading developer and manager of
privatized correctional and detention facilities in the United States. The
Company provides a diverse range of Adult and Juvenile programs and services to
local, state, and federal governmental agencies. The Company has 37 contracts to
manage facilities in twelve (12) states and Puerto Rico with an aggregate of
9,790 beds.

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       YSI currently operates 27 residential juvenile justice facilities and
conducts non-residential programs in a total of thirteen (13) states serving a
total of approximately 3,200 youth.

          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.