Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Calculation Of Numerator And Denominator In Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations																	$ 162,510	$ 157,597	$ 151,342
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes											(147)	[1]	(991)	[1]	734	[1]		(404)	3,612
NET INCOME	40,522		39,240		42,418		40,330		43,705		41,964		36,618		34,906		162,510	157,193	154,954
Income from continuing operations, basic																	$ 1.55	$ 1.41	$ 1.30
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, basic																		$ (0.01)	$ 0.03
Net income	$ 0.41	[2]	$ 0.38	[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 0.38	[2]	$ 0.32	[2]	$ 0.30	[2]	$ 1.55	$ 1.40	$ 1.33
Income from continuing operations, diluted																	$ 1.54	$ 1.39	$ 1.29
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, diluted																			$ 0.03
Net income	$ 0.41	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 0.39	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 0.39	[2]	$ 0.38	[2]	$ 0.32	[2]	$ 0.30	[2]	$ 1.54	$ 1.39	$ 1.32
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from computations of diluted earnings per share																	1,600,000	1,400,000	1,200,000
Stock Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities																	603,000	769,000	976,000
Restricted Stock-Based Compensation [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities																	196,000	193,000	226,000
Basic [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations																	162,510	157,597	151,342
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes																		(404)	3,612
NET INCOME																	162,510	157,193	154,954
Weighted average common shares outstanding																	104,736,000	112,015,000	116,088,000
Income from continuing operations, basic																	$ 1.55	$ 1.41	$ 1.30
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, basic																		$ (0.01)	$ 0.03
Net income																	$ 1.55	$ 1.40	$ 1.33
Diluted [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations																	162,510	157,597	151,342
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes																		(404)	3,612
NET INCOME																	$ 162,510	$ 157,193	$ 154,954
Weighted average common shares outstanding																	104,736,000	112,015,000	116,088,000
Weighted average shares and assumed conversions																	105,535,000	112,977,000	117,290,000
Income from continuing operations, diluted																	$ 1.54	$ 1.39	$ 1.29
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes, diluted																			$ 0.03
Net income																	$ 1.54	$ 1.39	$ 1.32

[1] The amounts presented for the first and second quarters of 2010 are not equal to the same amounts previously reported in Form 10-Q for each period as a result of discontinued operations. Below is a reconciliation to the previously reported amounts in Form 10-Q.

[2] The earnings per share amounts were favorably impacted by the reduction in CCA's weighted average shares outstanding resulting from share repurchases under CCA's share repurchase program.