Property And Equipment (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Number of real estate properties owned	50
Number of correctional and detention facilities	48
Number of real estate properties leased	2
Number of corporate office buildings	2
Number of correctional and detention facilities owned by government agencies	21
Interest capitalization cost on construction in progress	$ 1,600,000	$ 3,900,000	$ 1,600,000
Depreciation expense	109,100,000	106,400,000	103,000,000
Number of facilities subject to options	10
Number of facilities subject to options that are constructed on land which is leased from governmental agencies	2
Number of facilities also subject to purchase option	1
Rental expenses incurred on lease property	6,200,000	6,200,000	5,600,000
Wheeler County Development Authority [Member]
Percentage of income tax abatement			50.00%
Principal amount of bond issued			30,000,000
Purchase price paid for real property in addition to bonds value			100
Number of years of tax abatement			6
Douglas-Coffee County Industrial Authority [Member]
Percentage of income tax abatement			100.00%
Principal amount of bond issued			33,000,000
Purchase price paid for real property in addition to bonds value			$ 100
Number of years of tax abatement			5
Elizabeth Detention Center [Member]
Operating lease, expire date	June 2015
North Georgia Detention Center [Member]
Operating lease, expire date	2029
San Diego Correctional Facility [Member]
Operating lease, expire date	December 2015