The amount of debt issuance costs that were capitalized.

No definition available.

Name:	cxw_DebtIssuanceCostsCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The debt redemption price stated as a percentage of the par value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_DebtRedemptionPricePercentageOfParValue
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_LineOfCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility Extension Length

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_LineOfCreditFacilityExtensionLength
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility Maturity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_LineOfCreditFacilityMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Margin on Base Rate for Line of Credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_MarginOnBaseRate
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Margin on LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_MarginOnLibor
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of Capital Stock of foreign subsidiary secured by pledge under Revolving Credit Facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_PercentageOfCapitalStockOfForeignSubsidiarySecuredByPledgeUnderRevolvingCreditFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sublimit for issuance of standby letters of credit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_SublimitForIssuanceOfStandbyLettersOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Short-Term financing which is expected to be paid back relatively quickly, such as by a subsequent longer-term loan. Also called swing loan or bridge financing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BridgeLoan
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 Amended Revolving Credit Facility	Mar. 31, 2013 Amended Revolving Credit Facility	Mar. 31, 2012 Amended Revolving Credit Facility	Mar. 31, 2014 Amended Revolving Credit Facility Minimum	Mar. 31, 2014 Amended Revolving Credit Facility Maximum	Mar. 31, 2014 Letter of Credit	Apr. 30, 2013 Senior Notes Due 2020 Issuance Of Debt	Apr. 30, 2013 Senior Notes Due 2023 Issuance Of Debt	Mar. 31, 2014 Senior Notes 4.125% Due 2020	Apr. 30, 2013 Senior Notes 4.125% Due 2020 Issuance Of Debt	Mar. 31, 2014 Senior Notes 4.625% Due 2023	Apr. 30, 2013 Senior Notes 4.625% Due 2023 Issuance Of Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	$ 900.0	$ 900.0	$ 785.0
Revolving Credit Facility maturity extension period		1 year
Revolving Credit Facility maturity date		2017-12
Debt issuance costs, capitalized		2.7
Line of credit interest on outstanding borrowings	At CCA’s option, interest on outstanding borrowings under the $900.0 Million Revolving Credit Facility is based on either a base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.25% to 1.0% or a London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a margin ranging from 1.25% to 2.0% based on CCA’s leverage ratio.
Base rate plus a margin	0.75%			0.25%	1.00%
LIBOR plus a margin	1.75%			1.25%	2.00%
Line of credit facility, aggregate principal amount of additional borrowing	100.0
Sublimit swing line loans	30.0
Percentage of commitment fee to unfunded balance	0.35%
Borrowings under credit facility	520.0					24.9
Line of credit facility	355.1
Sublimit for issuance of standby letters of credit	50.0
Percentage of capital stock of foreign subsidiary secured by pledge under Revolving Credit Facilities	65.00%
Aggregate principal amount							$ 325.0	$ 350.0
Debt instrument due date							Apr. 01, 2020	May 01, 2023	Apr. 01, 2020		May 01, 2023
Debt instrument interest rate							4.125%	4.625%	4.125%		4.625%
Debt instrument redemption percentage of par										100.00%		100.00%