Summary of Capital Expenditures Including Accrued Amounts (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total capital expenditures	$ 81,494	$ 159,489	$ 190,741
CoreCivic Safety segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total capital expenditures	56,978	42,577	77,662
Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total capital expenditures	2,631	2,548	5,859
CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total capital expenditures	9,081	107,487	95,109
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total capital expenditures	$ 12,804	$ 6,877	$ 12,111