Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual)							6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 08, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 19, 2016 Bed	Sep. 30, 2016 bed Bed	Feb. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2015 USD ($) shares	May 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 Bed	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) renewal	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 AUD
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								$ 0	$ 4,550,000	$ 0
Minimum rent expense								38,200,000	$ 36,900,000	$ 34,800,000
Estimated construction capital project cost								112,600,000
Cost already spent on existing capital projects								15,200,000
Remaining capital required for capital projects								97,400,000
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value	$ 256,000,000
Estimate of possible loss								$ 19,600,000
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage								26.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements Expiring within One Year
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage								8.00%
Folkston ICE Processing Center
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Facility operation contract term		5 years
Number of beds in detention facility | Bed		780
D. Ray James Correctional Facility
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beds in detention facility | Bed			1,900
Renewal term			2 years
Number of beds in detention facility with fixed payment			1,800				1,962
National Australia Bank Limited | Ravenhall | Non Recourse Debt
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Capital contribution								$ 82,900,000			AUD 115,000,000
Construction Facility | National Australia Bank Limited | Ravenhall | Non Recourse Debt
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity								$ 570,100,000			AUD 791,000,000
Third Amendment To The Third Amended And Restated Executive Employment Agreement | Chief Executive Officer
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Officers' compensation					$ 1,000,000	$ 1,215,000
Maximum performance award as percent of annual base salary					150.00%	100.00%
Senior Officer Employment Agreement | Senior Vice President
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Officers' compensation				$ 500,000
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
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