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	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	$ 442,845	$ 474,935	$ 1,324,922	$ 1,385,651
Operating expenses	316,865	326,349	940,065	956,713
Operating income	60,815	73,953	195,133	216,057
General and administrative	(28,303)	(27,699)	(79,546)	(81,543)
Depreciation and amortization	(36,507)	(42,924)	(109,564)	(127,328)
Restructuring charges		(4,010)		(4,010)
Asset impairments	(355)		(614)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	429,892	464,054	1,290,876	1,355,782
Operating expenses	310,476	320,202	920,101	939,183
Operating income	119,416	143,852	370,775	416,599
Operating Segments \| Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	382,217	411,614	1,141,769	1,202,166
Operating expenses	266,471	272,970	783,354	802,642
Operating income	115,746	138,644	358,415	399,524
Operating Segments \| Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
REVENUES	47,675	52,440	149,107	153,616
Operating expenses	44,005	47,232	136,747	136,541
Operating income	3,670	5,208	12,360	17,075
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental and other revenue	12,953	10,881	34,046	29,869
Other operating expense	(6,389)	(6,147)	(19,964)	(17,530)
General and administrative	(28,303)	(27,699)	(79,546)	(81,543)
Depreciation and amortization	(36,507)	(42,924)	(109,564)	(127,328)
Restructuring charges		$ (4,010)		$ (4,010)
Asset impairments	$ (355)		$ (614)

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