Segment Reporting - 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
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 500,686	$ 458,002
Operating expenses	378,103	354,537
General and administrative	(36,465)	(32,679)
Depreciation and amortization	(31,730)	(31,042)
Interest expense, net	(18,613)	(19,151)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(27,242)	0
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	(568)	0
Other expense	(58)	(47)
Income before income taxes	9,043	20,546
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	500,685	457,901
Operating expenses	378,077	354,474
Operating income	122,608	103,427
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	457,746	417,650
Operating expenses	350,098	328,398
Operating income	107,648	89,252
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	29,900	26,414
Operating expenses	24,144	22,715
Operating income	5,756	3,699
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	13,039	13,837
Operating expenses	3,835	3,361
Operating income	9,204	10,476
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1	101
Other operating expense	(26)	(63)
General and administrative	(36,465)	(32,679)
Depreciation and amortization	(31,730)	(31,042)
Interest expense, net	(18,613)	(19,151)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(27,242)	0
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	568	0
Other expense	$ (58)	$ (47)