Commitments, Contingencies and Other (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, AUD in Millions						9 Months Ended
	Nov. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2015 bed	Jun. 01, 2015 USD ($)	May. 30, 2015 USD ($)	May. 14, 2015 shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2015 bed inmate	Sep. 30, 2015 AUD facility bed	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) facility bed	Jul. 06, 2015 facility bed	Sep. 30, 2014 AUD	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Estimated construction capital project cost						$ 159,000
Cost already spent on existing capital projects						51,000
Remaining capital required for capital projects						$ 108,000
Number of vacant beds at idle facilities marketed to potential customers | bed								3,422	3,422
Number of marketed idle facilities | facility								4	4
Property and Equipment
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Carrying values of idle facilities marketed to potential customers									$ 34,500
National Australia Bank Limited | Ravenhall | Non-Recourse Debt
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Contributions in aid of construction									80,200
National Australia Bank Limited | Ravenhall | Non-Recourse Debt | Construction Facility
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity								AUD 791.0	$ 552,000		AUD 791.0	$ 552,000
Facility management contract | Broward Transition Center
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of beds in a facility | bed								700	700
Chief Executive Officer | Third Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Annual base salary			$ 1,000	$ 1,215
Maximum performance award as percent of annual base salary			150.00%	100.00%
Performance-Based Restricted Stock | Chief Executive Officer | Third Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Granted shares | shares					25,000
Oklahoma, Michigan and California | Activation Of Facilities Contract
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of company-owned facilities | facility										3
Number of beds in a facility | bed										4,320
Subsequent Event | Facility management contracts and customer relationships | Northwest Detention Center
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of beds in a facility | bed		1,575
Contract term, operation of facility		9 years 6 months
Subsequent Event | Facility management contract | Arizona State Prison Kingman
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of beds in a facility | bed							3,400
Number of inmates, capacity | inmate							1,700
Subsequent Event | Facility management contract | Department of Homeland Security
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]
Contract term, operation of facility	5 years