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								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 482,193	$ 462,728	$ 449,929	$ 440,916	$ 440,576	$ 442,845	$ 436,393	$ 445,684	$ 1,835,766	$ 1,765,498	$ 1,849,785
Operating expenses									1,315,250	1,249,537	1,275,586
Operating income	$ 64,649	$ 64,419	61,712	$ 58,705	$ 65,263	$ 60,815	$ 65,279	$ 69,039	249,485	260,396	296,416
General and administrative									(106,865)	(107,822)	(107,027)
Depreciation and amortization									(156,501)	(147,129)	(166,746)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses									(6,085)
Restructuring charges											(4,010)
Asset impairments			$ (1,600)						(1,580)	(614)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,835,738	1,762,927	1,847,636
Operating expenses									1,314,736	1,248,953	1,275,007
Operating income									521,002	513,974	572,629
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,675,998	1,648,224	1,750,211
Operating expenses									1,222,418	1,185,621	1,225,353
Operating income									453,580	462,603	524,858
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									101,841	74,263	59,432
Operating expenses									76,898	51,501	41,247
Operating income									24,943	22,762	18,185
Operating Segments | Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									57,899	40,440	37,993
Operating expenses									15,420	11,831	8,407
Operating income									42,479	28,609	29,586
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense									(514)	(584)	(579)
General and administrative									(106,865)	(107,822)	(107,027)
Depreciation and amortization									(156,501)	(147,129)	(166,746)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses									(6,085)
Restructuring charges											(4,010)
Asset impairments									(1,580)	(614)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									$ 28	$ 2,571	$ 2,149