Real Estate Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2019 USD ($)	May 06, 2019 USD ($) ft²	Feb. 20, 2019 USD ($) Bed	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Bed	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Facility Bed	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2019 Bed	May 23, 2019 Bed	May 16, 2019 Bed	May 01, 2019 Bed	Jan. 24, 2018 Bed
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense				$ 345,679	$ 320,539	$ 691,511	$ 639,690
Asset impairments				$ 4,706	1,580	4,706	1,580
Proceeds from sale of property						$ 4,273	149
Idled Correctional Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility						6
Idled Non-Core Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility						2
Idled Residential Reentry Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility						1
Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed				729		729
Net Carrying Value				$ 8,300		$ 8,300
Operating Expense				2,800	$ 3,200	5,900	$ 6,700
Asset impairments				4,300
Adams County Correctional Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed								660			2,232
Net Carrying Value				97,800		$ 97,800
Contract expiration date						Aug. 30, 2019
Torrance County Detention Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed										910
Net Carrying Value				34,600		$ 34,600
Management agreement commencing date						May 15, 2019
Initial term of management contract						60 months
Agreement notice period for termination						120 days
Eden Detention Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed									1,422
Net Carrying Value				37,600		$ 37,600
Management agreement commencing date						Jun. 01, 2019
Agreement notice period for termination						30 days
Kansas Department Of Corrections
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed												2,432
Lease term												20 years
Construction of new facility commencement description						Construction of the new facility commenced in the first quarter of 2018 and is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2020.
Construction project capitalized amount				$ 109,300		$ 109,300
Detroit, Michigan
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Purchase price of real estate		$ 7,200
Area of Building Acquired | ft²		36,520
Percentage of building leased		100.00%
Operating lease renewal term		6 years
Chester, Pennsylvania
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Carrying Value of Assets Dispositions	$ 3,100
Proceeds from sale of property	3,400
Gain on sale of assets	$ 300
South Raleigh Reentry Center | Raleigh, North Carolina [Member]
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed			60
Purchase price of real estate			$ 900
Purchase price, net tangible assets			$ 900