Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Facility Property Building	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)
Number of real estate properties owned | Property			68
Number of correctional and detention facilities | Facility			66
Number of real estate properties leased | Facility			6
Number of corporate office buildings | Building			2
Number of facilities owned by government partners, managed | Facility			11
Interest capitalization cost on construction in progress			$ 5,500,000	$ 2,500,000	$ 800,000
Depreciation expense			$ 151,400,000	114,000,000	112,800,000
Number of facilities subject to options | Facility			11
Number of facilities subject to options that are constructed on land which is leased from governmental agencies | Facility			1
Ground Lease expiration year			2017
Expenses incurred on lease property			$ 85,900,000	$ 9,100,000	$ 5,900,000
Purchase price paid for real property in addition to bonds value						$ 100
Third Party Lessor
Agreement notice period for termination			90 days
Payment amount	$ 70,000,000
Depreciation of assets			4 years
Third Party Lessor | Minimum
Operating leases agreement renewal term			1 year
Third Party Lessor | Preexisting Cottages
Operating lease term			4 months
South Texas Family Residential Center
Payments expected to be made under the cancelable lease			$ 206,700,000
South Texas Family Residential Center | Minimum
Agreement notice period for termination	90 days
Non-appropriation of fund | Third Party Lessor
Agreement notice period for termination			60 days
Lease termination penalty			$ 13,300,000
Elizabeth Detention Center
Operating lease, expire date			Jun. 30, 2022
San Diego Correctional Facility
Operating lease, expire date			Dec. 31, 2015
Wheeler County Development Authority
Percentage of property tax abatement						50.00%
Principal amount of bond issued						$ 30,000,000
Number of years of tax abatement						6 years
Douglas-Coffee County Industrial Authority
Percentage of property tax abatement						100.00%
Principal amount of bond issued						$ 33,000,000
Number of years of tax abatement						5 years
Development Authority Of Telfair County
Percentage of property tax abatement		90.00%
Principal amount of bond issued		$ 15,000,000
Number of years of tax abatement		9 years
Percentage of property tax abatement, decrease in percentage		(10.00%)