Leases - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Property	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 24, 2018
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
ROU asset	$ 108,118,000
Current portion of lease liability	26,914,000
Long-term portion of liability	$ 51,247,000
Weighted-average lease term of operating leases	4 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted average discount rate associated with the operating leases	5.20%
Future minimum lease payments	$ 89,604,000
Number of properties for lease to third parties and used by government agencies | Property	28
CoreCivic Properties
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Operating leases latest expiration year	2034
Number of properties for lease to third parties and used by government agencies | Property	28
Company owned property, plant and equipment	$ 450,300,000
Kansas Department Of Corrections
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease term					20 years
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
ROU asset	108,100,000			$ 115,600,000
Current portion of lease liability	26,900,000
Long-term portion of liability	$ 51,200,000
Weighted average discount rate associated with the operating leases				5.30%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | ICE
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Agreement notice period for termination	60 days
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Third Party Lessor
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
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 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	$ 4,500,000
Non lease component for food services, rate of consideration paid	44.00%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | South Texas Family Residential Center
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Operating lease expense inclusive of short-term and variable leases, exclusive of non-lease food services component	$ 34,800,000	$ 30,700,000	$ 28,900,000
Future minimum lease payments	49,700,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Declining to zero by October 2020 | Third Party Lessor
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Lease termination penalty	$ 0
Multiple Properties | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Lessee Lease Description [Line Items]
Operating leases latest expiration year	2032