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
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 445,684	$ 447,385
Operating expenses	315,303	313,918
Operating income	69,039	64,928
General and administrative expense	(24,826)	(26,480)
Depreciation and amortization	(36,257)	(42,059)
Asset impairments	(259)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	435,264	438,451
Operating expenses	308,997	308,514
Operating income	126,267	129,937
Operating Segments | Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	384,703	388,621
Operating expenses	262,272	263,423
Operating income	122,431	125,198
Operating Segments | Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	50,561	49,830
Operating expenses	46,725	45,091
Operating income	3,836	4,739
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental and other revenue	10,420	8,934
Other operating expense	(6,306)	(5,404)
General and administrative expense	(24,826)	(26,480)
Depreciation and amortization	(36,257)	$ (42,059)
Asset impairments	$ (259)