Schedule of Revenue and Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 440,916	$ 445,684
Operating Expense	319,151	315,303
Operating income	58,705	69,039
General and administrative	(24,971)	(24,826)
Depreciation and amortization	(38,089)	(36,257)
Asset impairments		(259)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	440,913	445,609
Operating Expense	318,984	315,147
Operating income	121,929	130,462
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	404,498	418,683
Operating Expense	296,503	300,709
Operating income	107,995	117,974
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	24,800	17,054
Operating Expense	19,367	12,015
Operating income	5,433	5,039
Operating Segments | Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	11,615	9,872
Operating Expense	3,114	2,423
Operating income	8,501	7,449
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other revenue	3	75
Other operating expense	(167)	(156)
General and administrative	(24,971)	(24,826)
Depreciation and amortization	$ (38,089)	(36,257)
Asset impairments		$ (259)