Real Estate Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 25, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) Bed	Jul. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) Bed	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) Bed Facility	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Net book value of property and equipment										$ 7,000
Gain on sale of properties				$ 4,200	$ 1,100	$ 2,300				$ 38,700
Net proceeds from sale of assets			$ 4,800		$ 1,500			$ 156,169	$ 320,726
Number of real estate assets held for sale | Facility										2
Aggregate net sales proceeds						9,300
Number of properties sold | Facility										5
Net proceeds after the repayment of debt										$ 125,000
Operating Costs And Expenses				368,194			$ 338,192	1,061,823	1,004,146
Asset impairments				3,513			$ 5,177	$ 3,513	9,351
GRES
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity Ownership Percentage							100.00%
Increase to stockholders' equity upon termination of partnership							$ 17,400
Stockton Female Community Corrections Facility and Long Beach Community Corrections Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Gain on sale of properties				2,300
Idled Correctional Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility								7
Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Costs And Expenses				2,900			$ 2,000	$ 7,600	$ 6,000
Idle Facilities | West Tennessee Detention Facility and Leavenworth Detention Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Operating Costs And Expenses						$ 3,500
Purchase & Sale Agreement | Roth Hall Residential Reentry Center and the Walker Hall Residential Reentry Center [Member]
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Net book value of property and equipment		$ 5,800		$ 5,800				$ 5,800
Letter of Intent | Roth Hall Residential Reentry Center and the Walker Hall Residential Reentry Center [Member]
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Gross sale price		$ 6,300
Safety
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed		68,000		68,000				68,000
Safety | Idled Non-Core Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility								1
Number of beds at the facility | Bed		240		240				240
Net carrying value		$ 3,000		$ 3,000				$ 3,000
Safety | Purchase & Sale Agreement | McRae Correctional Facility
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Gross sale price	$ 130,000
Gain on sale of properties	77,500
Net proceeds from sale of assets	$ 129,700
CoreCivic Properties | Stockton Female Community Corrections Facility and Long Beach Community Corrections Center
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Net proceeds from sale of assets			$ 10,900
Community
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of beds at the center | Bed		5,000		5,000				5,000
Community | Idle Facilities
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Number of facility | Facility								3
Net carrying value		$ 5,100		$ 5,100				$ 5,100
Number of beds at the center | Bed		650		650				650
Community | Purchase & Sale Agreement
Facility Activations Developments And Closures [Line Items]
Gross sale price								$ 1,000
Net book value of property and equipment		$ 900		$ 900				$ 900
Asset impairments				$ 3,500