Schedule of Revenue and Facility Net Operating Income for Each of the Three Segments and a Reconciliation to CoreCivic's Operating Income Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 464,571	$ 472,641	$ 919,289	$ 963,742
Operating expenses	333,070	352,927	665,954	715,242
General and administrative	(33,228)	(30,145)	(62,758)	(61,424)
Depreciation and amortization	(34,084)	(38,619)	(66,796)	(76,571)
Shareholder litigation expense	(2,550)		(54,295)
Asset impairments	(2,866)	(11,717)	(4,174)	(12,253)
Interest expense, net	(23,222)	(20,996)	(41,650)	(43,534)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(52,167)		(52,167)
Gain on sale of real estate assets	(38,766)	(2,818)	(38,766)	(2,818)
Other income (expense)	(8)	169	(156)	702
Income before income taxes	22,142	21,224	10,105	58,238
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	464,541	472,604	919,223	963,647
Operating expenses	332,972	352,846	665,773	714,986
Operating income	131,569	119,758	253,450	248,661
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	419,880	424,117	829,649	861,882
Operating expenses	307,280	323,739	612,707	654,476
Operating income	112,600	100,378	216,942	207,406
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	24,929	26,004	48,587	56,603
Operating expenses	20,024	22,201	41,124	46,650
Operating income	4,905	3,803	7,463	9,953
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	19,732	22,483	40,987	45,162
Operating expenses	5,668	6,906	11,942	13,860
Operating income	14,064	15,577	29,045	31,302
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(98)	(81)	(181)	(256)
General and administrative	(33,228)	(30,145)	(62,758)	(61,424)
Depreciation and amortization	(34,084)	(38,619)	(66,796)	(76,571)
Shareholder litigation expense	(2,550)		(54,295)
Asset impairments	(2,866)	(11,717)	(4,174)	(12,253)
Interest expense, net	(23,222)	(20,996)	(41,650)	(43,534)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(52,167)		(52,167)
Gain on sale of real estate assets	38,766	2,818	38,766	2,818
Other income (expense)	(8)	169	(156)	702
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 30	$ 37	$ 66	$ 95