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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 483,705	$ 464,211	$ 1,405,389	$ 1,373,896
Operating expenses	377,323	368,194	1,093,868	1,061,823
General and administrative	(33,927)	(30,194)	(99,218)	(92,808)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,526)	(31,931)	(95,183)	(96,218)
Shareholder litigation expense	0	0	0	(1,900)
Asset impairments	2,710	3,513	2,710	3,513
Interest expense, net	(17,886)	(20,793)	(55,305)	(65,381)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(100)	(783)	(326)	(7,588)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	368	83,828	343	87,149
Other income (expense)	(74)	(71)	(43)	934
Income before income taxes	19,527	92,560	59,079	132,748
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	483,592	464,152	1,405,174	1,373,761
Operating expenses	377,281	368,114	1,093,710	1,061,564
Operating income	106,311	96,038	311,464	312,197
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	443,324	423,186	1,282,717	1,253,788
Operating expenses	350,946	342,190	1,015,070	987,472
Operating income	92,378	80,996	267,647	266,316
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	29,791	26,379	84,569	76,269
Operating expenses	23,268	22,022	68,888	63,531
Operating income	6,523	4,357	15,681	12,738
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	10,477	14,587	37,888	43,704
Operating expenses	3,067	3,902	9,752	10,561
Operating income	7,410	10,685	28,136	33,143
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(42)	(80)	(158)	(259)
General and administrative	(33,927)	(30,194)	(99,218)	(92,808)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,526)	(31,931)	(95,183)	(96,218)
Shareholder litigation expense	0	0	0	(1,900)
Asset impairments	(2,710)	(3,513)	(2,710)	(3,513)
Interest expense, net	(17,886)	(20,793)	(55,305)	(65,381)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(100)	(783)	(326)	(7,588)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	368	83,828	343	87,149
Other income (expense)	(74)	(71)	(43)	934
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 113	$ 59	$ 215	$ 135