Real Estate Activations, Acquisitions, Developments, and Closures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Idle Facilities	Jun. 30, 2013 Idle Facilities	Jun. 30, 2014 Idle Facilities	Jun. 30, 2013 Idle Facilities	Jun. 30, 2014 San Diego Correctional Facility Facility	Jun. 30, 2014 Otay Mesa Detention Center Facility	Sep. 30, 2012 Red Rock Correctional Center RenewalOptions Person	Jun. 30, 2014 Red Rock Correctional Center Facility	Sep. 30, 2014 Red Rock Correctional Center Scenario, Forecast	Oct. 31, 2013 State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation	Jun. 30, 2014 Tennessee Correctional Facility	Nov. 30, 2013 Tennessee Correctional Facility Facility	Jun. 30, 2014 Tennessee Correctional Facility Minimum	Jun. 30, 2014 Tennessee Correctional Facility Maximum	Jun. 30, 2014 Houston Educational Facility Facility	Dec. 31, 2013 Houston Educational Facility	Jul. 31, 2013 Correctional Alternatives, Inc.	Jul. 31, 2013 Correctional Alternatives, Inc.
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Consideration paid																						$ 36,500,000
Business acquisition transaction related expenses																							800,000
Purchase price, goodwill	16,110,000		16,110,000		16,110,000																		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
Operating Expense	287,610,000	304,001,000	574,990,000	602,223,000		1,900,000	1,600,000	4,400,000	3,300,000
Offer from third party																				4,500,000
Sale, expected closing date																				2014-09
Carrying value of idle facilities																				4,144,000	6,473,000
Asset impairments	2,238,000		2,238,000																	2,200,000
Number of beds at the facility										1,154	1,492		1,596				2,552			650
Lease expiration date										Dec. 31, 2015
Amount invested to acquire property											85,900,000					31,100,000
Expected additional number of offenders to be managed by the company												1,000
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%				90.00%
Management contract term facility will revert to the state of Arizona												20 years
Capital improvements for certain physical plant modifications													20,400,000
Expected capital improvements cost for certain physical plant modifications														500,000
Maximum number of useful life in years													20 years
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%
Tenant improvements expenses															10,000,000
Total cost of the project																		$ 140,000,000	$ 145,000,000