Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended					0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 bed	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 agreement bed	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 01, 2013 Subsequent Event	Oct. 17, 2013 Graceville Correctional Facility [Member] Subsequent Event bed	Oct. 21, 2013 Golden State Modified Community Correctional Facility [Member] Subsequent Event bed inmate	Oct. 23, 2013 Moore Haven Correctional Facility [Member] Subsequent Event bed contract	Oct. 23, 2013 Bay Correctonal Facility [Member] Subsequent Event bed	Oct. 23, 2013 Moore Haven and Bay Correctional Facilities [Member] Subsequent Event	Nov. 01, 2013 Maverick County Detention Center [Member] Subsequent Event bed	Sep. 30, 2013 7.75% Senior Notes	Oct. 03, 2013 Senior Notes Due January 15, 2022 Subsequent Event	Sep. 30, 2013 Senior Notes 7.75% Senior Notes	Nov. 03, 2013 Senior Notes 7.75% Senior Notes Subsequent Event agreement	Oct. 03, 2013 Senior Notes 7.75% Senior Notes Subsequent Event	Oct. 02, 2013 Senior Notes 7.75% Senior Notes Subsequent Event	Sep. 19, 2013 Senior Notes 7.75% Senior Notes Subsequent Event	Nov. 03, 2013 Senior Notes Senior Notes Due January 15, 2022 Subsequent Event	Oct. 03, 2013 Senior Notes Senior Notes Due January 15, 2022 Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Face amount																			$ 250,000,000.0		$ 250,000,000.0
Cash tender offer, including tender premium, percent																		101345.00%
Cash tender offer, tender premium, percent																		3000.00%
Cash tender offer, percent																		100000.00%
Repurchased amount of aggregate principal																	209,100,000
Percent of repurchased aggregate principal amount																		83.60%
Loss on extinguishment of debt	1,451,000	8,462,000	6,978,000	8,462,000												17,400,000
Fair value of the swap assets included as Other Non-Current Assets					$ 6,200,000											$ 4,000,000
Number of interest rates swap agreements			4													4
Interest rate	7.75%		7.75%										7.75%	5.875%	7.75%					5.875%
Coupon rate														5.875%						5.875%
Yield to maturity														5.875%						5.875%
Cash dividend per share of common stock declared						$ 0.55
Number of beds	73,000		73,000				1,884	100	985	985
Number of contracts awarded for management of correctional facility									2
Services agreement contract term							3 years				3 years
Renewal term							2 years				2 years
Number of inmates								700
Number of beds under terminated contract												688