Facility Activation Developments and Closures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Lake Erie Correctional Institution	Mar. 31, 2012 Lake Erie Correctional Institution Y	Sep. 30, 2011 Lake Erie Correctional Institution	Jan. 31, 2012 Otter Creek Correctional Center	Jan. 31, 2012 Otter Creek Correctional Center Minimum	Dec. 31, 2010 Prairie Correctional Facility	Dec. 31, 2010 Huerfano County Correctional Center Facility	Dec. 31, 2010 Diamondback Correctional Facility	Sep. 30, 2010 Jenkins Correctional Center Y D	Mar. 31, 2012 Jenkins Correctional Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Jenkins Correctional Center	Sep. 30, 2012 San Diego Correctional Facility	Sep. 30, 2012 San Diego Correctional Facility Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 San Diego Correctional Facility Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center California State	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center Beginning in January of 2014	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center 2015	Sep. 30, 2012
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Construction cost of facility, capitalized amount																					$ 29.0
Equipment																					0.6
Pre-fabricated concrete cells																					15.2
Number of beds at the facility					1,798	656		1,600	752	2,160				1,154			1,596
Assumption of ownership of the facility by the City of Wheelwright if CCA ceases to operate the facility, duration							2 years
Lease default settlement, lessor payment in satisfaction of future lease obligations	1.0
Carrying value of idle facilities	133.4	137.0
Expected additional number of offenders to be managed by the company											1,150	1,150	1,150				1,000		500	500
Construction cost												51.0	51.0
Construction contract initial term, in years				20							1
Construction contract number of renewal options											24
Construction contract renewal option term, in years											1
Population guarantee, percentage											90.00%
Ramp-up period, in days											120
Terms of contract awarded by the Georgia Department of Corrections												The contract has an initial one-year base term with 24 one-year renewal options. Additionally, the contract provides for a population guarantee of 90% of the contracted beds which commenced in July 2012 following a 120-day ramp-up period.
Purchase price of facility			73.0
Percentage of guaranteed occupancy under management contract			90.00%														90.00%
Lease expiration date														Dec. 31, 2015
Amount invested to acquire property														47.5
Expected construction cost															142.0	150.0
Management contract, initial term																	10 years
Management contract, number of renewal options																	2
Management contract, renewal option term																	5 years
Management contract term facility will revert to the state of Arizona																	20 years
Expected capital improvements cost for certain physical plant modifications																	$ 20.0
Currently managed inmates																		1,500