Commitments, Contingencies And Other Tax Matters (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($) Bed facility	Jul. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($) Bed facility	Jun. 30, 2013 AUD	Jul. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Minimum USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum USD ($)	May 07, 2013 Joe Corley Detention Center [Member] USD ($) bed	Jun. 30, 2013 Chief Executive Officer [Member]	May 29, 2013 Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Claims against the company related to property damages including interest			$ 16,500,000	18,000,000
Pre-judgment interest rate	7.00%		7.00%	7.00%
Estimated construction capital project cost						31,000,000	35,000,000
Cost already spent on existing capital projects			24,000,000
Remaining capital required for capital projects						7,000,000	11,000,000
Capital expenditure related to facility maintenance cost minimum range			30,000,000
Capital expenditure related to facility maintenance cost maximum range			35,000,000
Number of beds	72,000		72,000	72,000				1,287
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price								65,000,000
Maximum Performance Award as Percent of Annual Base Salary									100.00%	150.00%
Number of vacant beds at idle facilities marketed to potential customers	6,000		6,000	6,000
Number of marketed idle facilities	7		7	7
Carrying values of idle facilities marketed to potential customers	237,300,000		237,300,000
Income tax (benefit) provision	$ (7,268,000)	$ 13,660,000	$ (6,387,000)		$ 22,150,000