Summarized Results of Operations for Discontinued Facilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Managed-only, Revenue				$ 19,984	$ 36,421
Managed-only, Revenue				19,984	36,421
Managed-only, Expenses				22,529	35,994
Depreciation and amortization, Expenses				799	870
Asset impairments				2,637
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expense, Total				25,965	36,864
OPERATING LOSS				(5,981)	(443)
Other (expense) income				(17)	96
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES				(5,998)	(347)
Income tax benefit				2,241	142
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXES	$ (663)	$ (2,739)	$ (355)	$ (3,757)	$ (205)

Name:	cxw_DiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of asset impairment charges attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cxw_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	cxw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Income Expense

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, before income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the following (before income tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 7

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 05

-Paragraph 15

-Article 3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax effect allocated to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the tax effects of the following: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32672-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e38679-109324

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfDiscontinuedOperation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of costs of goods sold attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCostsOfGoodsSold
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of depreciation and amortization attributable to disposal group.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationDepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of operating expenses attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of operating income or loss attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 19

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration