Real Estate Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 Bed	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 Installment	Sep. 30, 2014 Facility	Nov. 30, 2013 Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense	$ 300,662,000	$ 287,380,000
Number of beds at the facility	81,500
Payment amount	91,607,000		87,227,000
San Diego Correctional Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility	1,154
Lease expiration date	Dec. 31, 2015
Otay Mesa Detention Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility	1,492
Amount invested to acquire property	136,100,000
Trousdale Turner Correctional Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility					2,552
Amount invested to acquire property	87,400,000
Percentage of guaranteed occupancy under management contract	90.00%
ICE
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Payment amount			70,000,000
Number of distinct multiple element arrangements	5
Deferred revenue recognized	36,000,000
Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense	1,800,000	1,900,000
Installment Payment | ICE
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Payment amount			$ 35,000,000
Number of installments			2
Installments due			Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum | South Texas Family Residential Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility				2,400
Management contract, initial term				4 years
Minimum | South Texas Family Residential Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Agreement notice period for termination				90 days