Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) Bed	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) Bed	Oct. 31, 2020 Bed	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Establishment of goodwill			This goodwill was established in connection with multiple business combination transactions.
Goodwill	$ 5,902,000		$ 5,902,000		$ 50,537,000
Goodwill Impairment Loss	$ 0
Two Managed-only Facilities
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill Impairment Loss		$ 2,000,000.0
Silverdale Detention Center
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed	1,046		1,046
Metro Davidson County Detention Facility
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of beds at the facility | Bed				1,348
Community Reporting Unit
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill Impairment Loss	$ 42,600,000
CoreCivic Safety
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 5,900,000		$ 5,900,000		7,900,000
Number of beds at the facility | Bed	70,000		70,000
CoreCivic Community
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 42,600,000