Leases - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) Property	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 24, 2018
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
ROU asset	$ 145,539	$ 169,968
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]	Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,716,283 and $1,657,709, respectively	Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,716,283 and $1,657,709, respectively
Current portion of lease liability	$ 32,696	$ 31,055
Operating Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Accounts payable and accrued expenses	Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Long-term portion of liability	$ 96,918	$ 121,348
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	Other liabilities	Other liabilities
Weighted-average lease term of operating leases	4 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted average discount rate associated with the operating leases	6.20%
Future minimum lease payments	$ 138,334
CoreCivic Properties
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Number of properties for lease to third parties and used by government agencies | Property	8
Company owned property and equipment	$ 198,300
Operating and finance leases latest expiration year	2040
Kansas Department Of Corrections
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease term				20 years
South Texas Family Residential Center
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Future minimum lease payments	$ 107,800
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
ROU asset	145,500	$ 170,000
Current portion of lease liability	24,100	22,600
Long-term portion of liability	96,900	121,300
Operating lease expense inclusive of short-term and variable leases, exclusive of non-lease food services component	$ 34,200	$ 34,600	$ 34,900
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | ICE
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Agreement notice period for termination	60 days
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Third Party Lessor
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
ROU asset	$ 116,000
Lease agreement, Option to extend the term of agreement	CoreCivic's lease agreement with the lessor is over a base period concurrent with an inter-governmental service agreement ("IGSA") with ICE, which was amended in September 2020 to extend the term of the agreement through September 2026.
Non lease component for food services, rate of consideration paid	44.00%