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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 471,194	$ 468,266	$ 1,390,483	$ 1,432,008
Operating expenses	338,192	347,927	1,004,146	1,063,169
General and administrative	(34,600)	(35,883)	(97,358)	(97,307)
Depreciation and amortization	(33,991)	(37,865)	(100,787)	(114,436)
Contingent consideration for acquisition for businesses		(620)		(620)
Shareholder litigation expense			(54,295)
Asset impairments	(5,177)	(805)	(9,351)	(13,058)
Interest expense, net	(20,653)	(20,193)	(62,303)	(63,727)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions			(52,167)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net		(2,102)	(38,766)	(4,920)
Other income (expense)	49	11	(107)	713
Income before income taxes	38,630	27,086	48,735	85,324
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	471,009	468,233	1,390,232	1,431,880
Operating expenses	338,091	347,841	1,003,864	1,062,827
Operating income	132,918	120,392	386,368	369,053
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	431,534	420,032	1,261,183	1,281,914
Operating expenses	314,283	319,335	926,990	973,811
Operating income	117,251	100,697	334,193	308,103
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	25,535	24,067	74,122	80,670
Operating expenses	20,427	21,095	61,551	67,745
Operating income	5,108	2,972	12,571	12,925
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	13,940	24,134	54,927	69,296
Operating expenses	3,381	7,411	15,323	21,271
Operating income	10,559	16,723	39,604	48,025
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(101)	(86)	(282)	(342)
General and administrative	(34,600)	(35,883)	(97,358)	(97,307)
Depreciation and amortization	(33,991)	(37,865)	(100,787)	(114,436)
Contingent consideration for acquisition for businesses		(620)		(620)
Shareholder litigation expense			(54,295)
Asset impairments	(5,177)	(805)	(9,351)	(13,058)
Interest expense, net	(20,653)	(20,193)	(62,303)	(63,727)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions			(52,167)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net		2,102	38,766	4,920
Other income (expense)	49	11	(107)	713
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 185	$ 33	$ 251	$ 128