An amendment to the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, this new legislation provides that: (1) surplus Federal land or buildings become available for correctional facilities at no cost to state or local governments; and (2) corrections agencies paying for Federal property purchased for correctional use between March 1, 1982, and October 12, 1984, are eligible for reimbursement. Case studies include Louisiana's criminal justice facility in New Iberia and Maine's Downeast Correctional Facility. Agencies considering the acquisition of Federal property for corrections use must be aware of potential pitfalls such as remote locations and prohibitive hidden costs. Benefits made possible by acquiring Federal property include costs savings depending on the property acquired; more desirable sites than are available through other means; and time savings in budgeting, planning, and building.