Real Estate Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands						3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 03, 2019 AdultDetainee	Jun. 28, 2019 Bed	Jun. 24, 2019 USD ($)	May 06, 2019 USD ($) ft²	Feb. 20, 2019 USD ($) Bed	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) ft² Facility Bed	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Facility	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) Facility Bed AdultDetainee	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	May 23, 2019 Bed	May 16, 2019 Bed	Jan. 24, 2018 Bed
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense						$ 368,735		$ 333,759	$ 1,060,246	$ 973,449
Asset impairments									4,706	1,580
Proceeds from sale of property									$ 4,291	12,606
Safety
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed						73,000			73,000
Community
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the center | Bed						5,000			5,000
Idled Correctional Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility									6
Idled Non-Core Facilities | Safety
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed						440			440
Number of facility | Facility									2
Net Carrying Value						$ 3,700			$ 3,700
Idled Residential Reentry Facility | CoreCivic Properties
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed						430			430
Number of facility | Facility						3			3
Net Carrying Value						$ 9,400			$ 9,400
Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Expense						$ 2,200		$ 2,300	$ 6,500	$ 7,100
Idle Facilities | Community
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the center | Bed						381			381
Number of facility | Facility									2
Net Carrying Value						$ 6,500			$ 6,500
Asset impairments							$ 4,300
Adams County Correctional Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Net Carrying Value						97,100			$ 97,100
Contract expiration date									Aug. 30, 2019
Management agreement commencing date									Aug. 31, 2019
Initial term of management contract									60 months
Agreement notice period for termination									120 days
Adams County Correctional Center | ICE
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Maximum number of beds cared for adult male detainees | Bed		660
Maximum number of adult detainees allowed under contract | AdultDetainee	2,348
Number of detainees cared for at facility | AdultDetainee									1,100
Torrance County Detention Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed												910
Net Carrying Value						34,400			$ 34,400
Management agreement commencing date									May 15, 2019
Initial term of management contract									60 months
Agreement notice period for termination									120 days
Number of detainees cared for at facility | AdultDetainee									270
Eden Detention Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed											1,422
Net Carrying Value						37,400			$ 37,400
Management agreement commencing date									Jun. 01, 2019
Agreement notice period for termination									30 days
Number of detainees cared for at facility | AdultDetainee									975
Kansas Department Of Corrections
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Lease term													20 years
Number of beds at the facility | Bed													2,432
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						$ 127,400			$ 127,400
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%
Lease expiration period				2028-06
Operating lease renewal term				6 years
Oklahoma | Idled Residential Reentry Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility							1
Arizona | Idled Residential Reentry Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility							1
Pennsylvania | Idled Residential Reentry Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Area of Building Acquired | ft²						54,000
Number of beds at the facility | Bed						430			430
Number of facility | Facility						3
Net Carrying Value						$ 9,400			$ 9,400
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 center | Bed					60
Purchase price of real estate					$ 900
Purchase price, net tangible assets					$ 900