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, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 440,576	$ 442,845	$ 436,393	$ 445,684	$ 464,134	$ 474,935	$ 463,331	$ 447,385	$ 1,765,498	$ 1,849,785	$ 1,793,087
Operating expenses									1,249,537	1,275,586	1,256,128
Operating income	$ 65,263	$ 60,815	$ 65,279	$ 69,039	$ 80,359	$ 73,953	$ 77,176	$ 64,928	260,396	296,416	280,554
General and administrative									(107,822)	(107,027)	(103,936)
Depreciation and amortization									(147,129)	(166,746)	(151,514)
Restructuring charges										(4,010)
Asset impairments									(614)		(955)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,720,233	1,809,091	1,755,745
Operating expenses									1,221,456	1,251,674	1,228,080
Operating income									498,777	557,417	527,665
Operating Segments | Owned and managed
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,529,987	1,603,671	1,543,750
Operating expenses									1,048,219	1,068,031	1,038,070
Operating income									481,768	535,640	505,680
Operating Segments | Managed-only
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									190,246	205,420	211,995
Operating expenses									173,237	183,643	190,010
Operating income									17,009	21,777	21,985
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental and other revenue									45,265	40,694	37,342
Other operating expense									(28,081)	(23,912)	(28,048)
General and administrative									(107,822)	(107,027)	(103,936)
Depreciation and amortization									(147,129)	(166,746)	(151,514)
Restructuring charges										$ (4,010)
Asset impairments									$ (614)		$ (955)