Schedule of Revenue and Net Operating Income of Owned and Managed and the Managed-Only Facilities and Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 464,134	$ 474,935	$ 463,331	$ 447,385	$ 447,835	$ 459,957	$ 459,295	$ 426,000	$ 1,849,785	$ 1,793,087	$ 1,646,867
Operating expenses									1,275,586	1,256,128	1,156,135
Operating income	$ 80,359	$ 73,953	$ 77,176	$ 64,928	$ 66,539	$ 65,436	$ 79,753	$ 68,826	296,416	280,554	240,296
General and administrative									(107,027)	(103,936)	(106,429)
Depreciation and amortization									(166,746)	(151,514)	(113,925)
Restructuring charges									(4,010)	0	0
Asset impairments										(955)	(30,082)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES									1,809,091	1,755,745	1,612,671
Operating expenses									1,251,674	1,228,080	1,136,212
Operating income									557,417	527,665	476,459
Operating Segments | Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES									1,603,671	1,543,750	1,379,986
Operating expenses									1,068,031	1,038,070	928,857
Operating income									535,640	505,680	451,129
Operating Segments | Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES									205,420	211,995	232,685
Operating expenses									183,643	190,010	207,355
Operating income									21,777	21,985	25,330
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental and other revenue									40,694	37,342	34,196
Other operating expense									(23,912)	(28,048)	(19,923)
General and administrative									(107,027)	(103,936)	(106,429)
Depreciation and amortization									(166,746)	(151,514)	(113,925)
Restructuring charges									(4,010)	0	0
Asset impairments									$ 0	$ (955)	$ (30,082)