Facility Activation Developments and Closures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Bed	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012 Otter Creek Correctional Center Facility	Jan. 31, 2012 Otter Creek Correctional Center Minimum	Dec. 31, 2010 Prairie Correctional Facility Facility	Dec. 31, 2010 Huerfano County Correctional Center Facility Facility	Dec. 31, 2010 Diamondback Correctional Facility Facility	Sep. 30, 2010 Jenkins Correctional Center D RenewalOptions Y	Mar. 31, 2012 Jenkins Correctional Center	Dec. 31, 2012 Jenkins Correctional Center	Dec. 31, 2011 Lake Erie Correctional Institution	Mar. 31, 2012 Lake Erie Correctional Institution Y	Sep. 30, 2011 Lake Erie Correctional Institution Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 San Diego Correctional Facility Facility	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center RenewalOptions Facility	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
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	92,500			656		1,600	752	2,160						1,798	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	132.1	137.0
Expected additional number of offenders to be managed by the company									1,150	1,130	1,130					1,000		500	500
Construction cost										51.0	51.0
Construction contract initial term, in years									1				20
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															48.7
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