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
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	$ 438,451	$ 416,908
Total operating expenses	308,514	292,309
Rental and other revenue	8,934	9,092
Other operating expense	(5,404)	(8,353)
General and administrative	(26,480)	(26,872)
Depreciation and amortization	(42,059)	(28,685)
Asset impairments		(955)
OPERATING INCOME	64,928	68,826
Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	388,621	363,964
Total operating expenses	263,423	244,300
OPERATING INCOME	125,198	119,664
Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total management revenue	49,830	52,944
Total operating expenses	45,091	48,009
OPERATING INCOME	4,739	4,935
Facility
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
OPERATING INCOME	$ 129,937	$ 124,599