Facility Activations Acquisitions Developments and Closures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended						1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Bed	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Bed	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Idle Facilities	Sep. 30, 2013 Mineral Wells Pre Parole Transfer Facility Facility	Jun. 30, 2013 Mineral Wells Pre Parole Transfer Facility Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 Mineral Wells Pre Parole Transfer Facility	Jun. 30, 2013 Dawson State Jail Facility	Sep. 30, 2013 Marion Adjustment Center Facility Facility	Jun. 30, 2013 Marion Adjustment Center Facility Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 Marion Adjustment Center Facility	Sep. 30, 2013 San Diego Correctional Facility Facility	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center RenewalOptions	Sep. 30, 2013 Red Rock Correctional Center Facility	Sep. 30, 2013 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 During the first quarter of 2015	Oct. 31, 2013 State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Subsequent Event Facility	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event Facility	Jul. 31, 2013 Correctional Alternatives, Inc.
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Consideration paid																								$ 36,500,000
Purchase price, goodwill	17,229,000		17,229,000		11,158,000																			7,000,000
Purchase price, identifiable intangible assets																								26,900,000
Purchase price, intangible liabilities																								7,900,000
Purchase price, net tangible assets																								17,700,000
Purchase price, deferred tax liabilities																								7,200,000
Number of beds at the facility	90,000		90,000				2,103	2,103		2,216	826	826		1,154		1,596				2,304			2,500
Carrying value of idle facilities							18,272,000		19,063,000		13,545,000		13,720,000								28,485,000	28,460,000
Operating Expense	301,489,000	305,591,000	903,712,000	920,065,000		5,200,000
Lease expiration date														Dec. 31, 2015
Amount invested to acquire property														50,900,000
Expected additional number of offenders to be managed by the company															1,000			500	500
Management contract, initial term															10 years
Management contract, number of renewal options															2
Management contract, renewal option term															5 years
Percentage of guaranteed occupancy under management contract															90.00%
Management contract term facility will revert to the state of Arizona															20 years
Expected capital improvements cost for certain physical plant modifications															20,500,000
Currently managed inmates																	500
Lease agreement commencing date																				Dec. 01, 2013
Lease term																				3 years
Renewal options term																				2 years
Annual rent																				28,500,000
Rent increase percentage																				2.00%
Total cost of the project																					$ 140,000,000