Segment Reporting - 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	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,896,635	$ 1,845,329	$ 1,862,616
Operating expenses		1,462,430	1,413,792	1,337,065
General and administrative		(136,084)	(127,700)	(135,770)
Depreciation and amortization		(127,316)	(127,906)	(134,738)
Shareholder litigation expense		0	(1,900)	(54,295)
Asset impairments	$ (3,500)	(2,710)	(4,392)	(11,378)
Interest expense, net		(72,960)	(84,974)	(85,542)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions		(686)	(8,077)	(56,279)
Gain on sale of real estate assets		798	87,728	38,766
Other income (expense)		576	986	(212)
Income before income taxes		95,823	165,302	86,103
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		1,896,364	1,845,171	1,862,337
Operating expenses		1,462,220	1,413,265	1,336,703
Operating income		434,144	431,906	525,634
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Safety segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		1,731,421	1,684,035	1,693,968
Operating expenses		1,356,496	1,313,567	1,236,938
Operating income		374,925	370,468	457,030
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		115,068	103,263	99,435
Operating expenses		91,895	86,016	81,610
Operating income		23,173	17,247	17,825
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		49,875	57,873	68,934
Operating expenses		13,829	13,682	18,155
Operating income		36,046	44,191	50,779
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense		(210)	(527)	(362)
General and administrative		(136,084)	(127,700)	(135,770)
Depreciation and amortization		(127,316)	(127,906)	(134,738)
Shareholder litigation expense		0	(1,900)	(54,295)
Asset impairments		(2,710)	(4,392)	(11,378)
Interest expense, net		(72,960)	(84,974)	(85,542)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions		(686)	(8,077)	(56,279)
Gain on sale of real estate assets		798	87,728	38,766
Other income (expense)		576	986	(212)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 271	$ 158	$ 279