Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			23 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Approval of stock repurchase program of CCA's common stock by company's board of directors	$ 500,000,000	$ 350,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Increase in stock repurchase program authorized amount		100,000,000
Common stock repurchased by CCA, shares							17,700,000
Common stock repurchased by CCA							383,200,000
Common stock repurchased by CCA, per share							21.63
Preferred stock, shares authorized				50,000,000	50,000,000		50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares par value				$ 0.01	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Total intrinsic value of options exercised				4,500,000	11,400,000	18,800,000
Weighted average fair value of options granted per option				$ 9.66	$ 7.76	$ 4.17
Restricted Stock-Based Compensation [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares issued				265,000	446,000
Aggregate value of shares issued				6,500,000	9,700,000
Allocated share-based compensation expense				6,100,000	5,500,000	5,700,000
Unrecognized compensation cost				8,200,000			8,200,000
Remaining period for recognizing the unrecognized compensation cost, in years				1.8
Amount of shares that may vest in the first performance period, maximum				one-third
Vesting period of shares or units issued				three-year
Stock Option [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost				5,800,000			5,800,000
Remaining period for recognizing the unrecognized compensation cost, in years				2.1
Minimum vesting periods for options granted to employees				three
Maximum vesting periods for options granted to employees				four
Term of options				ten years
2008 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance of awards				18,000,000			18,000,000
Number of shares available for issuance				12,600,000			12,600,000
Non-Employee Directors' Compensation Plan [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance of awards				225,000			225,000
Number of shares available for issuance				200,000			200,000
General And Administrative Expense [Member] | Restricted Stock-Based Compensation [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares issued				227,000	335,000
Allocated share-based compensation expense				5,000,000	4,400,000	4,600,000
Operating Expense [Member] | Restricted Stock-Based Compensation [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares issued				38,000	111,000
Allocated share-based compensation expense				$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
Non-Employee Directors [Member] | Restricted Stock-Based Compensation [Member]
Stockholders' Equity [Line Items]
Vesting period of shares or units issued				one-year