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Value of share instruments newly issued under a share-based compensation plan.

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No definition available.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

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Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

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The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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Cash received on stock transaction after deduction of issuance costs.

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No definition available.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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- Definition

Number of share instruments newly issued under a share-based compensation plan.

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- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The noncash expense that accounts for the value of stock or unit options distributed to employees as compensation.

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Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 28, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2003
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Common stock, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares issued		118,674,000	118,204,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized		50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Total intrinsic value of options exercised		$ 1,300,000	$ 2,900,000	$ 1,700,000
2008 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance of awards					18,000,000
Number of shares available for issuance		6,700,000
Non-Employee Directors' Compensation Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance of awards						225,000
Number of shares available for issuance		200,000
ATM Agreement
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares issued		0
Common Stock \| ATM Agreement \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Common stock, aggregate gross sales price	$ 200,000,000
Restricted stock based awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Fair value of restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic to certain of its employees and non-employee directors		$ 20,500,000	18,100,000
Allocated share-based compensation expense		13,100,000	13,300,000	17,800,000
Unrecognized compensation cost		$ 19,000,000
Remaining period for recognizing the unrecognized compensation cost, in years		1 year 9 months 18 days
Total fair value of restricted common stock and common stock units that vested		$ 15,300,000	16,600,000	15,100,000
Restricted stock based awards \| General and Administrative
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Allocated share-based compensation expense		11,300,000	11,400,000	14,400,000
Restricted stock based awards \| Operating
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Allocated share-based compensation expense		$ 1,800,000	$ 1,900,000	1,700,000
Restricted stock based awards \| Restructuring Charges
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Allocated share-based compensation expense				1,700,000
Restricted stock based awards \| Employees And Non Employee Directors
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic		945,000	554,000
Restricted stock based awards \| Employees And Non Employee Directors \| General and Administrative
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic		850,000	487,000
Restricted stock based awards \| Employee \| Operating
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic		95,000	67,000
Restricted stock based awards \| Officers And Executive Officers
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Vesting period		3 years
Percent of awards eligible to vest		33.33%
Restricted stock based awards \| Non Employee Directors
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Vesting period		1 year
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost		$ 0
Term of options		10 years
Stock options \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Vesting period		4 years
Stock options \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Vesting period		3 years
Stock options \| General and Administrative
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Expense net of estimated forfeitures, relating to common stock options				$ 100,000