Organization and Operations - Additional Information (Detail)	Jun. 30, 2012
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]
Number of facilities owned by company	49
Number of facilities operated by company	67
Number of states in which company facilities are located	20

Number of states in which company operates facilities.

No definition available.

Name:	cxw_NumberOfStatesInWhichCompanyOperatesFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant