Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) - 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
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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										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) expense										(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 benefit (expense)										(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
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES										1,184,878	1,250,199	1,268,763
EXPENSES:
Operating										889,203	896,470	945,750
General and administrative										33,248	33,508	31,290
Depreciation and amortization										82,745	80,820	76,112
Asset impairments											29,915
Costs and Expenses										1,005,196	1,040,713	1,053,152
OPERATING INCOME										179,682	209,486	215,611
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Interest expense, net										35,919	35,138	38,319
Expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions										701		28,563
Other (income) expense										232	302	(45)
Total non-operating expense (income)										36,852	35,440	66,837
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES										142,830	174,046	148,774
Income tax benefit (expense)										(1,541)	(552)	143,590
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS										141,289	173,494	292,364
Income from equity in subsidiaries										80,565	21,528	8,471
NET INCOME										221,854	195,022	300,835
Combined Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES										1,469,105	1,268,654	1,351,695
EXPENSES:
Operating										1,227,821	1,131,651	1,200,762
General and administrative										70,688	72,921	72,300
Depreciation and amortization										68,769	33,105	36,580
Asset impairments										955	167	6,513
Costs and Expenses										1,368,233	1,237,844	1,316,155
OPERATING INCOME										100,872	30,810	35,540
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Interest expense, net										13,777	4,397	6,807
Expenses associated with debt refinancing transactions												7,965
Other (income) expense										(414)	(786)	23
Total non-operating expense (income)										13,363	3,611	14,795
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES										87,509	27,199	20,745
Income tax benefit (expense)										(6,820)	(6,391)	(8,595)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS										80,689	20,808	12,150
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes												(3,757)
NET INCOME										80,689	20,808	8,393
Consolidating Adjustments and Other
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUES										(860,896)	(871,986)	(926,161)
EXPENSES:
Operating										(860,896)	(871,986)	(926,161)
Costs and Expenses										(860,896)	(871,986)	(926,161)
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Other (income) expense										124	(720)	(78)
Total non-operating expense (income)										124	(720)	(78)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES										(124)	720	78
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS										(124)	720	78
Income from equity in subsidiaries										(80,565)	(21,528)	(8,471)
NET INCOME										$ (80,689)	$ (20,808)	$ (8,393)

[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.