Schedule of Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 436,861		$ 444,853		$ 442,866		$ 435,305		$ 437,082	[1]	$ 432,137	[1]	$ 429,944	[1]	$ 425,180	[1]	$ 1,759,885	$ 1,724,343	$ 1,663,317
Operating income	80,516		79,888		74,885		69,544		82,377	[1]	80,905	[1]	87,100	[1]	83,645	[1]	304,833	334,027	324,296
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(841)	[1]	(107)	[1]	(198)	[1]	(110)	[1]	(362)	(1,256)	(1,170)
Net income	45,408		42,339		37,334		31,680		40,522		39,240		42,418		40,330		156,761	162,510	157,193
Basic earnings per share: Net income	$ 0.46	[2]	$ 0.42	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 0.32	[2]	$ 0.41	[2]	$ 0.38	[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 1.58	$ 1.55	$ 1.40
Diluted earnings per share: Net income	$ 0.45	[2]	$ 0.42	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 0.32	[2]	$ 0.41	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 0.39	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ 1.56	$ 1.54	$ 1.39
Discontinued operations - revenue									(2,611)		(2,906)		(2,859)		(2,894)		(193)	(11,270)	(34,620)
Discontinued operations - Operating Income									1,305		170		319		178		(668)	(1,972)	(1,951)
Discontinued operations subsequent to the respective reporting period									(841)		(107)		(198)		(110)
Previously Reported
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenue									439,693		435,043		432,803		428,074
Operating income									$ 81,072		$ 80,735		$ 86,781		$ 83,467

[1] The amounts presented for the four quarters of 2011 are not equal to the same amounts previously reported in the respective reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K 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.