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, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 474,935	$ 459,957	$ 1,385,651	$ 1,345,252
Operating expenses	326,349	326,500	956,713	945,197
Operating income	73,953	65,436	216,057	214,015
General and administrative	(27,699)	(26,791)	(81,543)	(76,770)
Depreciation and amortization	(42,924)	(41,230)	(127,328)	(108,315)
Restructuring charges	(4,010)		(4,010)
Asset impairments				(955)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	464,054	450,337	1,355,782	1,317,012
Operating expenses	320,202	320,585	939,183	925,013
Operating income	143,852	129,752	416,599	391,999
Operating Segments | Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	411,614	395,587	1,202,166	1,155,604
Operating expenses	272,970	270,221	802,642	777,940
Operating income	138,644	125,366	399,524	377,664
Operating Segments | Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	52,440	54,750	153,616	161,408
Operating expenses	47,232	50,364	136,541	147,073
Operating income	5,208	4,386	17,075	14,335
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental and other revenue	10,881	9,620	29,869	28,240
Other operating expense	(6,147)	(5,915)	(17,530)	(20,184)
General and administrative	(27,699)	(26,791)	(81,543)	(76,770)
Depreciation and amortization	(42,924)	$ (41,230)	(127,328)	(108,315)
Restructuring charges	$ (4,010)		$ (4,010)
Asset impairments				$ (955)