Real Estate Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 27, 2015 USD ($) Bed Facility	Sep. 30, 2014 Facility	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Bed	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Installment	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) Facility	Jun. 30, 2015 Bed Person	Jun. 30, 2014 Person	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) Bed Business-Combination	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) Facility	Nov. 30, 2013 Bed
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed	600		83,000					83,000
Operating Expense			$ 326,500		$ 282,712			$ 945,197	$ 857,702
Deferred Revenue - Noncurrent			72,722	$ 87,227				72,722
Revenue			450,337		399,020			1,317,012	1,198,287
Consideration paid	$ 13,795							13,795
Business acquisition transaction related expenses	200
Purchase price, net tangible assets	13,400
Purchase price, identifiable intangible assets	$ 400
Number of facilities acquired | Facility	4
Lease expiration date	2019-07
Lease extension period	5 years
Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense			2,000		$ 1,700			5,400	$ 5,100
Lee Adjustment Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of offender | Person						308	458
Net carrying value			$ 10,969	11,365				$ 10,969
Number of beds at the facility | Bed			816			816		816
San Diego Correctional Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed			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 | Bed			1,482					1,482
Amount invested to acquire property			$ 157,000					$ 157,000
Trousdale Turner Correctional Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed										2,552
Amount invested to acquire property			134,200					$ 134,200
Percentage of guaranteed occupancy under management contract								90.00%
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								$ 13,500
ICE
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue - Noncurrent				$ 70,000
Number of distinct multiple element arrangements | Business-Combination								5
Revenue			$ 71,000					$ 172,800
ICE | Installment Payment
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of installments | Installment				2
Installments due				Dec. 31, 2014
Amount to be settled as an installment				$ 35,000
Maximum | South Texas Family Residential Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Facility		2,400			2,400				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