Two River Authority officials have entered into a 10-year contract with an out-of-state security firm to bring 1,000 prisoners to the Hardin jail by mid March, but law enforcement has never heard of the firm.

After sitting vacant two years after completion the Hardin jail will now house prisoners provided by California security firm American Police Force. "I am just thrilled for the city of Hardin and I can't wait to see it all just come together," said Executive Director Greg Smith. "We did research for the past 11 months. It's very good it's a beautiful prison and I'm surprised its been empty for the past 2 years," said an American Police Force spokesperson who wanted to stay anonymous for security reasons.

Smith says the group contacted him during the media stormed that surrounded the prison when officials asked the government to house Gitmo prisoners there. The security firm visited shortly after and the agreement was signed in early September. But the group is an unknown to both the U.S. Marshals and the Federal Detention Trustee and when you search their website the group mentions nothing about holding detainees or prisoners.

In fact, the website features services that include special forces training, international weapons sales, and fugitive recovery. "This is really a chance for them to expand their operation," said Smith. "Like a lot of companies they've decided to get into another thing closely related to what they do and that's what they're doing."

Jail officials say they did the research prior to signing the agreement and the group is legitimate. The security firm plans to expand the 464-bed facility to 1,000 soon and fill the building by mid March and officials also plan on providing a homeless shelter, animal shelter, and state-of-the-art forensic lab in Hardin as well as a facility where they can train domestic and international police officers.

Smith says the facility will hold minimum and medium security federal prisoners and that the contract calls for 80% of the prison jobs to go to people living in and around the Hardin area.