Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
REVENUES	$ 447,835	$ 459,957	$ 459,295	$ 426,000	$ 423,477		$ 408,474	$ 410,694	$ 404,222	$ 1,793,087	$ 1,646,867	$ 1,694,297
EXPENSES:
Operating										1,256,128	1,156,135	1,220,351
General and administrative										103,936	106,429	103,590
Depreciation and amortization										151,514	113,925	112,692
Asset impairments					27,800					955	30,082	6,513
Costs and Expenses, Total										1,512,533	1,406,571	1,443,146
OPERATING INCOME	66,539	65,436	79,753	68,826	41,845	[1]	69,850	65,535	63,066	280,554	240,296	251,151
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Interest expense, net										49,696	39,535	45,126
Expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions										701		36,528
Other income										(58)	(1,204)	(100)
Total non-operating expense (income)										50,339	38,331	81,554
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES										230,215	201,965	169,597
Income tax (expense) benefit										(8,361)	(6,943)	134,995
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS										221,854	195,022	304,592
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes												(3,757)
NET INCOME	$ 48,598	$ 50,676	$ 65,303	$ 57,277	$ 30,006	[1]	$ 57,546	$ 55,732	$ 51,738	$ 221,854	$ 195,022	$ 300,835
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income from continuing operations										$ 1.90	$ 1.68	$ 2.77
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes												(0.03)
Net income	$ 0.41	$ 0.43	$ 0.56	$ 0.49	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 0.50	$ 0.48	$ 0.45	1.90	1.68	2.74
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income from continuing operations										1.88	1.66	2.73
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes												(0.03)
Net income	$ 0.41	$ 0.43	$ 0.55	$ 0.49	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.49	$ 0.48	$ 0.44	1.88	1.66	2.70
Regular Dividend
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Dividend declared on common stock, per share										$ 2.16	$ 2.04	1.97
Special Dividend
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Dividend declared on common stock, per share												$ 6.66

[1] The earnings amounts in the fourth quarter of 2014 were unfavorably impacted by $27.8 million of non-cash impairments recorded to write down the book values of two of CCA's non-core facilities to the estimated fair values, as discussed in Note 5.