Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) Property	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 24, 2018
CoreCivic Properties
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of properties leased to third parties and used by government agencies | Property	27
Kansas Department Of Corrections
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Lease term				20 years
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
ROU asset			$ 82,900,000
Lease liability	$ 76,350,000		82,900,000
Net charge to accumulated deficit			$ 29,900,000
Weighted average discount rate associated with the operating leases			5.30%
Weighted-average lease term of operating leases	2 years 9 months 18 days
Operating lease expense inclusive of short-term and variable leases	$ 8,400,000	$ 7,700,000
Future minimum lease payments	$ 82,261,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | CoreCivic Properties
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating leases latest expiration year	2034
Number of properties leased to third parties and used by government agencies | Property	27
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Kansas Department Of Corrections
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Lease term				20 years
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | ICE
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Agreement notice period for termination	60 days
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Third Party Lessor
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Lease agreement, Existence of option to extend	true
Lease agreement, Option to extend the term of agreement	CoreCivic's lease agreement with the lessor is over a base period concurrent with an inter-governmental service agreement ("IGSA") with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") which was amended in October 2016 to extend the term of the agreement through September 2021.
Period to reach an agreement for continued use of facility from termination date	90 days
Lease termination penalty	$ 7,000,000.0
Non lease component for food services, rate of consideration paid	44.00%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Third Party Lessor | Declining to zero by October 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Lease termination penalty	$ 0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Third Party Lessor | Multiple Properties
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Operating leases latest expiration year	2023
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | South Texas Family Residential Center
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Future minimum lease payments	$ 71,300,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Other Assets
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
ROU asset	76,200,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Current portion of lease liability	28,100,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Other Liabilities
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Line Items]
Long-term portion of liability	$ 48,300,000