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	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 490,294	$ 449,929	$ 974,358	$ 890,845
Operating expenses	345,679	320,539	691,511	639,690
Operating income	70,954	61,712	144,218	120,417
General and administrative	(33,364)	(27,538)	(62,809)	(52,509)
Depreciation and amortization	(35,591)	(38,560)	(71,114)	(76,649)
Asset impairments	(4,706)	(1,580)	(4,706)	(1,580)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	490,259	449,927	974,255	890,840
Operating expenses	345,576	320,398	691,319	639,382
Operating income	144,683	129,529	282,936	251,458
Operating Segments \| Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	440,410	413,208	874,728	817,706
Operating expenses	316,995	298,469	633,590	594,972
Operating income	123,415	114,739	241,138	222,734
Operating Segments \| Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	30,706	24,718	61,272	49,518
Operating expenses	23,086	18,757	46,582	38,124
Operating income	7,620	5,961	14,690	11,394
Operating Segments \| CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	19,143	12,001	38,255	23,616
Operating expenses	5,495	3,172	11,147	6,286
Operating income	13,648	8,829	27,108	17,330
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(103)	(141)	(192)	(308)
General and administrative	(33,364)	(27,538)	(62,809)	(52,509)
Depreciation and amortization	(35,591)	(38,560)	(71,114)	(76,649)
Asset impairments	(4,706)	(1,580)	(4,706)	(1,580)
Segment Reconciling Items \| Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 35	$ 2	$ 103	$ 5

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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