Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	17 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 General and Administrative Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Operating Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Operating Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Operating Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Operating Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Operating Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Operating Expense [Member] Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted stock-based compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Stock Option [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option [Member]
Approval of stock repurchase program of CCA's common stock by company's board of directors	$ 350.0	$ 250.0
Common stock repurchased by CCA, shares					10,000,000
Common stock repurchased by CCA					215.8
Restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees									226,000		335,000				38,000		111,000		264,000		446,000			573,000		712,000
Fair value of restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees																			6.5		9.7			5.5		5.5
Vesting period of shares or units issued to officers and executive officers, subject to satisfaction of certain performance criteria, years																			three
Allocated share-based compensation expense			1.5	3.0		1.2	2.4	1.2		2.3		0.3	0.6	0.3		0.5		1.5		2.8
Restricted common stock and common stock units remained outstanding and subject to vesting				778,000	778,000
Weighted average exercise price of common stock shares issued to directors, officers and executive officers				$ 18.67																				$ 24.47		$ 20.68
Expense net of forfeitures, relating to common stock options																						$ 1.0	$ 1.1	$ 2.2	$ 2.0
Common stock options outstanding				3,800,000	3,800,000