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Debt (Nonrecourse Debt) (Details) $ in Thousands, AUD in Millions | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 AUD | Dec. 09, 2011 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding balance | $ 2,620,269 |  |  |  |
Long term debt | 2,181,544 | $ 1,935,465 |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | 0 | (15,885) | $ 0 |  |
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 | 384,415 | $ 472,207 |  |  |
Northwest Detention Center | Non Recourse Debt Northwest Detention Center |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Current restricted cash | 6,100 |  |  |  |
Northwest Detention Center | Non Recourse Debt 2011 Revenue Bonds |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Non-recourse debt | 30,000 |  |  |  |
Current portion of non-recourse debt | 7,000 |  |  |  |
Fulham | Australian Subsidiary's Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Non-recourse debt | $ 2,600 |  |  | AUD 3.6 |
Interest rate terms | variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 140 basis points |  |  |  |

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