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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) Facility	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$ 12,764	$ 11,062
Accounts receivable, net of credit loss reserve	312,435	282,809
Accounts receivable, credit loss reserve	$ 8,000	7,900
Number of facilities accounted for as service concession arrangements \| Facility	4
Equity method investment description	Investments in affiliates that are equal to or less than 50%-owned over which CoreCivic can exercise significant influence are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Revenue, performance obligation, description of timing	one to thirty days
Percentage of likelihood required for a tax position to be measured	50.00%
Net charge to accumulated deficit	$ (376,431)	$ (498,690)
Revision of Prior Period Accounting Standards Update Adjustment \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-13
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Net charge to accumulated deficit				$ 1,000
Government Contracts Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net \| Federal Correctional And Detention Authorities
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	54.00%	56.00%	52.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net \| United States Immigration And Customs Enforcement
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	29.00%	30.00%	28.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net \| United States Marshals Service
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	22.00%	23.00%	21.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net \| Federal Bureau Of Prisons
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net \| State Correctional Authorities
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	36.00%	32.00%	33.00%
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts State Of Tennessee	10.00%
Minimum
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Renewal of contract terms	2 years
Maximum
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Renewal of contract terms	5 years