1 Exhibit 5.1 B A S S, B E R R Y & S I M S P L C A PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ATTORNEYS AT LAW 2700 FIRST AMERICAN CENTER 1700 RIVERVIEW TOWER NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37238-2700 POST OFFICE BOX 1509 TELEPHONE (615) 742-6200 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37901-1509 TELECOPIER (615) 742-6293 TELEPHONE (423) 521-6200 TELECOPIER (423) 521-6234 November 4, 1998 Corrections Corporation of America 10 Burton Hills Boulevard Nashville, TN 37215 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as your counsel in connection with your preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 1998, covering up to $100,000,000 million of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, (the "Common Stock"), of Corrections Corporation of America (the "Company") to be sold on the terms set forth in the Registration Statement. In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates, and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate in order to express the opinions hereinafter set forth and have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. Based on the foregoing and such other matters as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable when payment therefor is received upon the terms established by the Company's Board of Directors. Very truly yours, /s/ Bass, Berry & Sims PLC