Schedule of Revenue and Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1,845,329	$ 1,862,616	$ 1,905,485
Operating expenses	1,413,792	1,337,065	1,406,376
General and administrative	(127,700)	(135,770)	(124,338)
Depreciation and amortization	(127,906)	(134,738)	(150,861)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses	0	0	(620)
Shareholder litigation expense	(1,900)	(54,295)	0
Asset impairments	(4,392)	(11,378)	(60,628)
Interest expense, net	(84,974)	(85,542)	(83,299)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(8,077)	(56,279)	(7,141)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets, net	(87,728)	(38,766)	13,023
Other income (expense)	986	(212)	525
Income before income taxes	165,302	86,103	59,724
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,845,171	1,862,337	1,905,320
Operating expenses	1,413,265	1,336,703	1,405,969
Operating income	431,906	525,634	499,351
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Safety segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,684,035	1,693,968	1,706,232
Operating expenses	1,313,567	1,236,938	1,288,938
Operating income	370,468	457,030	417,294
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	103,263	99,435	105,990
Operating expenses	86,016	81,610	88,903
Operating income	17,247	17,825	17,087
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	57,873	68,934	93,098
Operating expenses	13,682	18,155	28,128
Operating income	44,191	50,779	64,970
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(527)	(362)	(407)
General and administrative	(127,700)	(135,770)	(124,338)
Depreciation and amortization	(127,906)	(134,738)	(150,861)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses			(620)
Shareholder litigation expense	(1,900)	(54,295)
Asset impairments	(4,392)	(11,378)	(60,628)
Interest expense, net	(84,974)	(85,542)	(83,299)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(8,077)	(56,279)	(7,141)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets, net	87,728	38,766	(13,023)
Other income (expense)	986	(212)	525
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 158	$ 279	$ 165