<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMARRY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 134,197 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 82,433 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 226,657 <PP&E> 266,457 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 618,710 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 79,502 <BONDS> 77,887 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 80,150 <OTHER-SE> 249,111 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 618,710 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 325,931 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 265,656 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (273) <INCOME-PRETAX> 60,548 <INCOME-TAX> 23,276 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 37,272 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 37,272 <EPS-PRIMARY> .44 <EPS-DILUTED> .42