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			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 462,728		$ 442,845	$ 1,353,573	$ 1,324,922
Operating Expense	333,759		316,865	973,449	940,065
Operating income	64,419		60,815	184,836	195,133
General and administrative	(25,085)		(28,303)	(77,594)	(79,546)
Depreciation and amortization	(39,465)		(36,507)	(116,114)	(109,564)
Asset impairments		$ (1,600)	(355)	(1,580)	(614)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	462,727		440,380	1,353,567	1,322,365
Operating Expense	333,629		316,700	973,011	939,600
Operating income	129,098		123,680	380,556	382,765
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	422,313		410,975	1,240,019	1,238,439
Operating Expense	310,698		300,577	905,670	894,077
Operating income	111,615		110,398	334,349	344,362
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	25,133		19,199	74,651	53,832
Operating Expense	18,911		13,504	57,035	37,498
Operating income	6,222		5,695	17,616	16,334
Operating Segments | Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	15,281		10,206	38,897	30,094
Operating Expense	4,020		2,619	10,306	8,025
Operating income	11,261		7,587	28,591	22,069
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(130)		(165)	(438)	(465)
General and administrative	(25,085)		(28,303)	(77,594)	(79,546)
Depreciation and amortization	(39,465)		(36,507)	(116,114)	(109,564)
Asset impairments			(355)	(1,580)	(614)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 1		$ 2,465	$ 6	$ 2,557