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, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 472,641		$ 490,294	$ 963,742	$ 974,358
Operating expenses	352,927		345,679	715,242	691,511
Operating income	39,233		70,954	98,252	144,218
General and administrative	(30,145)		(33,364)	(61,424)	(62,809)
Depreciation and amortization	(38,619)		(35,591)	(76,571)	(71,114)
Asset impairments	(11,717)	$ (500)	(4,706)	(12,253)	(4,706)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	472,604		490,259	963,647	974,255
Operating expenses	352,846		345,576	714,986	691,319
Operating income	119,758		144,683	248,661	282,936
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	424,117		440,410	861,882	874,728
Operating expenses	323,739		316,995	654,476	633,590
Operating income	100,378		123,415	207,406	241,138
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	26,004		30,706	56,603	61,272
Operating expenses	22,201		23,086	46,650	46,582
Operating income	3,803		7,620	9,953	14,690
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	22,483		19,143	45,162	38,255
Operating expenses	6,906		5,495	13,860	11,147
Operating income	15,577		13,648	31,302	27,108
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(81)		(103)	(256)	(192)
General and administrative	(30,145)		(33,364)	(61,424)	(62,809)
Depreciation and amortization	(38,619)		(35,591)	(76,571)	(71,114)
Asset impairments	(11,717)		(4,706)	(12,253)	(4,706)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 37		$ 35	$ 95	$ 103