Stockholders Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended		48 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 27, 2012
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Dividend per share				$ 0.20	$ 0.60
Annual dividend per share											$ 0.80
Approval of share repurchase program of CCA's common stock by company's Board of Directors	$ 500.0	$ 350.0	$ 250.0
Increased aggregate value of shares authorized for repurchase under share repurchase program		100.0
Common stock repurchased by CCA, shares								17,700,000	10,700,000	28,400,000
Common stock repurchased by CCA								383.2	125.0	508.2
Common stock repurchased by CCA, average price per share								$ 21.63	$ 11.72	$ 17.91
Preferred stock, shares authorized					50,000,000	50,000,000		50,000,000		50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares par value					$ 0.01	$ 0.01		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Total intrinsic value of options exercised					5.5	4.5	11.4
Weighted average fair value of options granted per option					$ 7.50	$ 9.66	$ 7.76
2008 Stock Incentive Plan
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance of awards						18,000,000		18,000,000		18,000,000
Number of shares available for issuance					11,100,000
Non-Employee Directors' Compensation Plan
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance of awards						225,000		225,000		225,000
Number of shares available for issuance					200,000
Stock Option
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost					6.1
Remaining period for recognizing the unrecognized compensation cost, in years					2 years 1 month 6 days
Term of options					P10Y
Stock Option | Minimum
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Vesting period					3 years
Stock Option | Maximum
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Vesting period					4 years
Restricted Stock
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees					349,000
Fair value of restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees					9.2	6.5
Unrecognized compensation cost					9.1
Remaining period for recognizing the unrecognized compensation cost, in years					1 year 9 months 18 days
Allocated share-based compensation expense					7.6	6.1	5.5
Restricted Stock | Officers And Executive Officers
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Vesting period					3 years
Performance criteria, cumulative period					3 years
Percent of awards eligible to vest					33.33%
Restricted Stock | Other Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Vesting period, continuous service requirement					3 years
Restricted Stock | General and Administrative Expense
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees					290,000	227,000
Allocated share-based compensation expense					6.4	5.0	4.4
Restricted Stock | General and Administrative Expense | Non Employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees						265,000
Restricted Stock | Operating Expense
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Restricted common stock and common stock units and stock options issued by CCA to certain of its employees					59,000	38,000
Allocated share-based compensation expense					$ 1.2	$ 1.1	$ 1.1