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	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	$ 450,337	$ 399,020	$ 1,317,012	$ 1,198,287
Total operating expenses	320,585	275,116	925,013	842,724
Rental and other revenue	9,620	9,454	28,240	25,103
Other operating expense	(5,915)	(7,596)	(20,184)	(14,978)
General and administrative	(26,791)	(27,635)	(76,770)	(79,586)
Depreciation and amortization	(41,230)	(28,277)	(108,315)	(85,413)
Asset impairments			(955)	(2,238)
OPERATING INCOME	65,436	69,850	214,015	198,451
Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	395,587	345,105	1,155,604	1,020,041
Total operating expenses	270,221	227,816	777,940	683,143
OPERATING INCOME	125,366	117,289	377,664	336,898
Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	54,750	53,915	161,408	178,246
Total operating expenses	50,364	47,300	147,073	159,581
OPERATING INCOME	4,386	6,615	14,335	18,665
Facility
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
OPERATING INCOME	$ 129,752	$ 123,904	$ 391,999	$ 355,563