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
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	$ 416,908us-gaap_Revenues	$ 398,915us-gaap_Revenues
Total operating expenses	292,309us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	286,093us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
Rental and other revenue	9,092cxw_RentalAndOtherRevenues	5,307cxw_RentalAndOtherRevenues
Other operating expense	(8,353)us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense	(1,287)us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense
General and administrative expense	(26,872)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	(25,392)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Depreciation and amortization	(28,685)us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	(28,384)us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Asset impairments	(955)us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
OPERATING INCOME	68,826us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	63,066us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	363,964	334,912
Total operating expenses	244,300	227,648
OPERATING INCOME	119,664	107,264
Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	52,944	64,003
Total operating expenses	48,009	58,445
OPERATING INCOME	4,935	5,558
Facility
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
OPERATING INCOME	$ 124,599	$ 112,822

Amount of rental and other revenue.

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Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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-Publisher FASB

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The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

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The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

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Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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No definition available.

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Amount of general expenses not normally included in Other Operating Costs and Expenses.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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