Debt (Nonrecourse Debt) (Details) $ in Thousands, AUD in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2010 Bed	Dec. 31, 2015 AUD	Dec. 31, 2014 AUD	Dec. 09, 2011 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 2,139,391
Revised number of beds | Bed				1,575
Number of beds | Bed				1,030
Long term debt	1,875,556	$ 1,462,819
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	$ (20,657)
Taxable Revenue Bonds STLDC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			$ 1,500
Non Recourse Debt Northwest Detention Center
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		57,000
Non Recourse Debt 2011 Revenue Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt							$ 54,400
Stated interest rate							6.40%
Non Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-recourse debt	247,131	144,550
Northwest Detention Center | Non Recourse Debt Northwest Detention Center
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current restricted cash	8,600
Northwest Detention Center | Non Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-recourse debt	43,100
Current portion of non-recourse debt	6,500
Fulham | Australian Subsidiary's Non Recourse Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-recourse debt	$ 9,000	$ 16,400			AUD 12.4	AUD 22.5
Interest rate terms	variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 140 basis points
Non current restricted cash	$ 3,700				AUD 5.0