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, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 484,064	$ 440,916
Operating expenses	345,832	319,151
Operating income	73,264	58,705
General and administrative	(29,445)	(24,971)
Depreciation and amortization	(35,523)	(38,089)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	483,996	440,913
Operating expenses	345,743	318,984
Operating income	138,253	121,929
Operating Segments \| Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	434,318	404,498
Operating expenses	316,595	296,503
Operating income	117,723	107,995
Operating Segments \| Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	30,566	24,800
Operating expenses	23,496	19,367
Operating income	7,070	5,433
Operating Segments \| CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	19,112	11,615
Operating expenses	5,652	3,114
Operating income	13,460	8,501
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(89)	(167)
General and administrative	(29,445)	(24,971)
Depreciation and amortization	(35,523)	(38,089)
Segment Reconciling Items \| Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 68	$ 3

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

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