Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, AUD in Millions					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 11, 2016 shares	Feb. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2015 USD ($) shares	May. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) renewal	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 AUD	Oct. 28, 2015 bed inmate	Oct. 01, 2015 bed	Jul. 06, 2015 facility bed	May. 21, 2015 inmate	May. 20, 2015 bed	Apr. 27, 2015 bed	Feb. 18, 2015 bed	Jan. 28, 2015 bed
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating agreements, number of renewal options | renewal						2
Operating agreements, renewal option, term						5 years
Exit charges related to non-core operating leases | $						$ 4,550	$ 0	$ 0
Minimum rent expense | $						36,900	$ 34,800	$ 35,900
Estimated construction capital project cost | $						153,000
Cost already spent on existing capital projects | $						53,000
Remaining capital required for capital projects | $						$ 100,000
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage						31.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring within One Year
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage						4.00%
Department Of Homeland Security
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision of case management and supervision services contract term					5 years
LCS Facilities
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beds In facilities acquired (more than 6,500)																6,500
National Australia Bank Limited | Ravenhall | Non Recourse Debt
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Capital contribution						$ 84,000			AUD 115.0
Construction Facility | National Australia Bank Limited | Ravenhall | Non Recourse Debt
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity						$ 577,400			AUD 791.0
Third Amendment To The Third Amended And Restated Executive Employment Agreement | Chief Executive Officer
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Officers' compensation | $			$ 1,000	$ 1,215
Maximum performance award as percent of annual base salary			150.00%	100.00%
Activation Of Facilities Contract | Mesa Verde Detention Facility
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds																	400
Activation Of Facilities Contract | North Lake Correctional Facility
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds														1,748
Management Contract | ICE
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds											1,575
Management Contract | Vermont Department Of Corrections
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of inmates, capacity														675
Management Contract | Washington Department Of Corrections
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of inmates, capacity | inmate													1,000
Management Contract | Arizona State Prison Kingman
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds										3,400
Number of inmates, capacity | inmate										1,700
Performance-based Restricted Stock | Third Amendment To The Third Amended And Restated Executive Employment Agreement | Chief Executive Officer
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Granted shares | shares			25,000
Subsequent Event | Senior Officer Employment Agreement | Senior Vice President
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Officers' compensation | $		$ 500
Initial term of contract		2 years
Additional term of contract		2 years
Continuous rolling extension period until maximum age (67 years) reached		1 day
Maximum age for contract termination		67 years
Subsequent Event | Performance-based Restricted Stock
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Granted shares | shares	115,000
AUSTRALIA | Management Contract | Department Of Justice And Regulation, Australia
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds															947
Oklahoma, Michigan and California | Activation Of Facilities Contract
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility, number of beds												4,320
Number of company owned facilities | facility												3