Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue Recognition and Facility Construction and Design (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 2,256,612	$ 2,350,098	$ 2,477,922
U.S. Secure Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,488,936	1,571,216	1,601,679
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	278,934	241,944	256,954
Reentry Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	274,893	309,398	357,295
International
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	213,849	227,540	261,994
Owned and Leased: Secure Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,127,688	1,198,881	1,228,299
Owned and Leased: Secure Services | U.S. Secure Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,127,688	1,198,881	1,228,299
Owned and Leased: Community-based
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	150,888	145,491	176,001
Owned and Leased: Community-based | Reentry Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	150,888	145,491	176,001
Owned and Leased: Youth Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	33,920	75,792	87,189
Owned and Leased: Youth Services | Reentry Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	33,920	75,792	87,189
Managed Only
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	579,074	605,388	640,897
Managed Only | U.S. Secure Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	361,248	372,335	373,380
Managed Only | Reentry Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	3,977	5,513	5,523
Managed Only | International
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	213,849	227,540	261,994
Non-residential Services and Other
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	365,042	324,546	345,536
Non-residential Services and Other | Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	278,934	241,944	256,954
Non-residential Services and Other | Reentry Services
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 86,108	$ 82,602	$ 88,582