Schedule of Revenue and Net Operating Income of Owned and Managed and the Managed-Only Facilities and Reconciliation to CCA's Operating Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue										$ 1,612,671	$ 1,687,809	$ 1,718,382
Total operating expenses										1,136,212	1,203,541	1,199,358
Rental and other revenue										34,196	6,488	5,275
Other operating expense										(19,923)	(16,810)	(17,693)
General and administrative expense										(106,429)	(103,590)	(88,935)
Depreciation and amortization										(113,925)	(112,692)	(113,063)
Asset impairments	(27,800)									(30,082)	(6,513)
OPERATING INCOME	41,845	[1]	69,850	65,535	63,066	56,019	67,271	67,969	59,892	240,296	251,151	304,608
Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue										1,379,986	1,386,355	1,418,783
Total operating expenses										928,857	941,638	935,680
OPERATING INCOME										451,129	444,717	483,103
Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue										232,685	301,454	299,599
Total operating expenses										207,355	261,903	263,678
OPERATING INCOME										25,330	39,551	35,921
Facility
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
OPERATING INCOME										$ 476,459	$ 484,268	$ 519,024

[1] The earnings amounts in the fourth quarter of 2014 were unfavorably impacted by $27.8 million of non-cash impairments recorded to write down the book values of two of CCA's non-core facilities to the estimated fair values, as discussed in Note 5.