Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Idaho Correctional Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Idaho Correctional Center	Sep. 30, 2013 Idaho Correctional Center	Sep. 30, 2012 Idaho Correctional Center	Jun. 30, 2013 Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Establishment of goodwill			This goodwill was established in connection with the acquisition of Correctional Alternatives, Inc. ("CAI") during the third quarter of 2013 (see Note 4) and the acquisitions of two service companies during 2000.
Goodwill	$ 17,229,000		$ 17,229,000		$ 11,158,000
Asset impairment charges	985,000		985,000			1,000,000				2,600,000
Operating income loss	67,271,000	79,733,000	195,132,000	224,309,000		1,100,000	200,000	700,000	1,000,000
Goodwill impairment charges										800,000
Other assets impairment charges										$ 1,800,000