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			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 468,266		$ 508,522	$ 1,432,008	$ 1,482,880
Operating expenses	347,927		368,735	1,063,169	1,060,246
Operating income	45,166		71,095	143,418	215,313
General and administrative	(35,883)		(32,038)	(97,307)	(94,847)
Depreciation and amortization	(37,865)		(36,654)	(114,436)	(107,768)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses	(620)			(620)
Asset impairments	(805)	$ (500)		(13,058)	(4,706)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	468,233		508,493	1,431,880	1,482,748
Operating expenses	347,841		368,514	1,062,827	1,059,833
Operating income	120,392		139,979	369,053	422,915
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	420,032		457,817	1,281,914	1,332,545
Operating expenses	319,335		338,116	973,811	971,706
Operating income	100,697		119,701	308,103	360,839
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	24,067		30,848	80,670	92,120
Operating expenses	21,095		24,168	67,745	70,750
Operating income	2,972		6,680	12,925	21,370
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	24,134		19,828	69,296	58,083
Operating expenses	7,411		6,230	21,271	17,377
Operating income	16,723		13,598	48,025	40,706
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(86)		(221)	(342)	(413)
General and administrative	(35,883)		(32,038)	(97,307)	(94,847)
Depreciation and amortization	(37,865)		(36,654)	(114,436)	(107,768)
Contingent consideration for acquisition of businesses	(620)			(620)
Asset impairments	(805)			(13,058)	(4,706)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 33		$ 29	$ 128	$ 132