Real Estate Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - Entity [Domain] $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 Facility	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Facility Bed	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Installment	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Facility Bed Person Business-Combination	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) Person	Nov. 30, 2013 Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed		83,500			83,500
Operating Expense		$ 318,035		$ 287,610	$ 618,697	$ 574,990
Deferred Revenue - Noncurrent		82,976	$ 87,227		82,976
Revenue		$ 449,767		400,352	866,675	799,267
South Texas Family Residential Center | Third Party Lessor | Non-appropriation of fund
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Agreement notice period for termination	60 days
Lease termination penalty					$ 13,700
San Diego Correctional Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Facility		1,154			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 | Facility		1,492			1,492
Amount invested to acquire property		$ 147,100			$ 147,100
Trousdale Turner Correctional Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Facility							2,552
Amount invested to acquire property		114,000			$ 114,000
Percentage of guaranteed occupancy under management contract					90.00%
ICE
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue - Noncurrent			70,000
Number of distinct multiple element arrangements | Business-Combination					5
Revenue		65,800			$ 101,800
Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense		1,600		$ 1,500	$ 3,400	$ 3,400
Lee Adjustment Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of offender | Person					308	458
Net carrying value		$ 11,102			$ 11,102
Number of beds at the facility | Bed		816			816
Installment Payment | ICE
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue - Noncurrent			$ 35,000
Number of installments | Installment			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 | 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