Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) - Restricted stock based awards - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Fair value of restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic to certain of its employees and non-employee directors		$ 20.9	$ 20.1
Employees And Non Employee Directors
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic		1.2	0.9
Officers And Executive Officers
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Vesting period		3 years
Non Employee Directors
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Vesting period		1 year
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Fair value of restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic to certain of its employees and non-employee directors	$ 15.4
Subsequent Event | Employees And Non Employee Directors
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic	2.0
Subsequent Event | Officers And Executive Officers
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic	1.0
Vesting period	3 years
Subsequent Event | Other Employees
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic	0.8
Vesting period	3 years
Subsequent Event | Non Employee Directors
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Restricted common stock units issued by CoreCivic	0.2
Vesting period	1 year