Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (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
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 423,477		$ 408,474	$ 410,694	$ 404,222	$ 431,103	$ 421,466	$ 425,005		$ 416,723		$ 1,646,867	$ 1,694,297	$ 1,723,657
EXPENSES:
Operating												1,156,135	1,220,351	1,217,051
General and administrative												106,429	103,590	88,935
Depreciation and amortization												113,925	112,692	113,063
Asset impairments	27,800											30,082	6,513
Costs and Expenses												1,406,571	1,443,146	1,419,049
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
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Interest expense, net												39,535	45,126	58,363
Expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions													36,528	2,099
Other (income) expense												(1,204)	(100)	(333)
Total non-operating expense (income)												38,331	81,554	60,129
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES												201,965	169,597	244,479
Income tax benefit (expense)												(6,943)	134,995	(87,513)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS												195,022	304,592	156,966
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes							(663)	(2,739)		(355)			(3,757)	(205)
NET INCOME	30,006	[1]	57,546	55,732	51,738	47,471	51,843	20,429	[2]	181,092	[3]	195,022	300,835	156,761
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES												1,250,199	1,268,763	1,411,277
EXPENSES:
Operating												896,470	945,750	943,803
General and administrative												33,508	31,290	70,792
Depreciation and amortization												80,820	76,112	74,452
Asset impairments												29,915
Costs and Expenses												1,040,713	1,053,152	1,089,047
OPERATING INCOME												209,486	215,611	322,230
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Interest expense, net												35,138	38,319	57,174
Expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions													28,563	2,099
Other (income) expense												302	(45)	16
Total non-operating expense (income)												35,440	66,837	59,289
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES												174,046	148,774	262,941
Income tax benefit (expense)												(552)	143,590	(93,870)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS												173,494	292,364	169,071
Income from equity in subsidiaries												21,528	8,471	(12,310)
NET INCOME												195,022	300,835	156,761
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES												1,268,654	1,351,695	329,971
EXPENSES:
Operating												1,131,651	1,200,762	290,839
General and administrative												72,921	72,300	18,143
Depreciation and amortization												33,105	36,580	38,611
Asset impairments												167	6,513
Costs and Expenses												1,237,844	1,316,155	347,593
OPERATING INCOME												30,810	35,540	(17,622)
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Interest expense, net												4,397	6,807	1,189
Expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions													7,965
Other (income) expense												(786)	23	(26)
Total non-operating expense (income)												3,611	14,795	1,163
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES												27,199	20,745	(18,785)
Income tax benefit (expense)												(6,391)	(8,595)	6,357
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS												20,808	12,150	(12,428)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes													(3,757)	(205)
NET INCOME												20,808	8,393	(12,633)
Consolidating Adjustments and Other
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES												(871,986)	(926,161)	(17,591)
EXPENSES:
Operating												(871,986)	(926,161)	(17,591)
Costs and Expenses												(871,986)	(926,161)	(17,591)
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Other (income) expense												(720)	(78)	(323)
Total non-operating expense (income)												(720)	(78)	(323)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES												720	78	323
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS												720	78	323
Income from equity in subsidiaries												(21,528)	(8,471)	12,310
NET INCOME												$ (20,808)	$ (8,393)	$ 12,633

[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.

[2] The earnings amounts in the second quarter of 2013 were negatively impacted by $36.3 million of expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions.

[3] The earnings amounts in the first quarter of 2013 were favorably impacted by the net tax benefit resulting from the revaluation of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with the REIT conversion effective January 1, 2013.