Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Facility	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$ 11,062	$ 23,549
Accounts receivable, net of credit loss reserve	282,809	267,705
Accounts receivable, credit loss reserve	$ 7,900	6,100
Number of facilities accounted for as service concession arrangements | Facility	4
Equity method investment description	Investments in affiliates that are equal to or less than 50%-owned over which CoreCivic can exercise significant influence are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Revenue, performance obligation, description of timing	one to thirty days
Percentage of likelihood required for a tax position to be measured	50.00%
ROU asset	$ 169,968	194,080
Lease liability	143,917
Net charge to accumulated deficit	$ (498,690)	(446,519)
Weighted average discount rate associated with the operating leases	6.20%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
ROU asset	$ 170,000	$ 194,100			$ 115,600
Lease liability					$ 82,900
Weighted average discount rate associated with the operating leases					5.30%
Revision of Prior Period Accounting Standards Update Adjustment | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Net charge to accumulated deficit					$ 29,900
Revision of Prior Period Accounting Standards Update Adjustment | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Net charge to accumulated deficit				$ 1,000
Government Contracts Concentration Risk | Sales Revenue, Net | Federal Correctional And Detention Authorities
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	56.00%	52.00%	51.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk | Sales Revenue, Net | United States Immigration And Customs Enforcement
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	30.00%	28.00%	29.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk | Sales Revenue, Net | United States Marshals Service
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	23.00%	21.00%	17.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk | Sales Revenue, Net | Federal Bureau Of Prisons
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	3.00%	3.00%	5.00%
Government Contracts Concentration Risk | Sales Revenue, Net | State Correctional Authorities
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues generated from government management contracts	32.00%	33.00%	34.00%
Minimum
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Renewal of contract terms	2 years
Maximum
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Renewal of contract terms	5 years
SSA Baltimore Property and Lansing Correctional Facility
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$ 11,100	$ 10,300
GRES
Organization And Operations [Line Items]
Restricted cash		$ 13,200