Schedule of Total Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 3,621,977	$ 3,709,315
Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	2,494,179	2,589,622
Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	228,529	234,475
CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	355,886	676,374
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 543,383	$ 208,844