Schedule of Revenue and Facility Net Operating Income of Reportable Segments and Reconciliation to CCA's Operating Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue																	$ 1,687,809	$ 1,718,382	$ 1,682,386
Total operating expenses																	1,203,541	1,199,358	1,142,349
Rental and other revenue																	6,488	5,275	6,419
Other operating expense																	(16,810)	(17,693)	(15,920)
General and administrative expense																	(103,590)	(88,935)	(91,227)
Depreciation and amortization																	(112,692)	(113,063)	(107,568)
Asset impairments																	(6,513)
Operating income	56,019	[1]	67,271	[1]	67,969	[1]	59,892	[1]	80,299	[1]	79,733	[1]	75,125	[1]	69,451	[1]	251,151	304,608	331,741
Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue																	1,386,355	1,418,783	1,386,470
Total operating expenses																	941,638	935,680	884,987
Operating income																	444,717	483,103	501,483
Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue																	301,454	299,599	295,916
Total operating expenses																	261,903	263,678	257,362
Operating income																	39,551	35,921	38,554
Facility
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income																	$ 484,268	$ 519,024	$ 540,037

[1] The amounts presented for the first two quarters of 2013 and the four quarters of 2012 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.