Schedule of Revenue and Facility Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 463,682	$ 456,697	$ 921,684	$ 909,685
Operating expenses	362,008	349,000	716,545	693,629
General and administrative	(32,612)	(31,513)	(65,291)	(62,614)
Depreciation and amortization	(31,615)	(32,259)	(62,657)	(64,287)
Shareholder litigation expense	0	(1,900)	0	(1,900)
Interest expense, net	(18,268)	(21,668)	(37,419)	(44,588)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(226)	(6,805)	(226)	(6,805)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets, net	(25)	1,060	(25)	3,321
Other income (expense)	78	(37)	31	1,005
Income before income taxes	19,006	14,575	39,552	40,188
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	463,681	456,655	921,582	909,609
Operating expenses	361,955	348,920	716,429	693,450
Operating income	101,726	107,735	205,153	216,159
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	421,743	416,354	839,393	830,602
Operating expenses	335,726	324,261	664,124	645,282
Operating income	86,017	92,093	175,269	185,320
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	28,364	25,775	54,778	49,890
Operating expenses	22,905	21,282	45,620	41,509
Operating income	5,459	4,493	9,158	8,381
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	13,574	14,526	27,411	29,117
Operating expenses	3,324	3,377	6,685	6,659
Operating income	10,250	11,149	20,726	22,458
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(53)	(80)	(116)	(179)
General and administrative	(32,612)	(31,513)	(65,291)	(62,614)
Depreciation and amortization	(31,615)	(32,259)	(62,657)	(64,287)
Shareholder litigation expense	0	(1,900)	0	(1,900)
Interest expense, net	(18,268)	(21,668)	(37,419)	(44,588)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(226)	(6,805)	(226)	(6,805)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets, net	(25)	1,060	(25)	3,321
Other income (expense)	78	(37)	31	1,005
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1	$ 42	$ 102	$ 76