Schedule of Total Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 3,709,315	$ 3,791,631
Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,589,622	2,606,127
Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	234,475	275,882
CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	676,374	682,249
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 208,844	$ 227,373