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		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 452,988	$ 454,718
Operating expenses	344,629	332,884
General and administrative	(31,101)	(29,530)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,028)	(32,712)
Shareholder litigation expense		(51,745)	$ (54,300)
Asset impairments		(1,308)
Interest expense, net	(22,920)	(18,428)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	(2,261)
Other income (expense)	1,042	(148)
Income (loss) before income taxes	25,613	(12,037)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	452,954	454,682
Operating expenses	344,530	332,801
Operating income	108,424	121,881
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	414,248	409,769
Operating expenses	321,021	305,427
Operating income	93,227	104,342
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	24,115	23,658
Operating expenses	20,227	21,100
Operating income	3,888	2,558
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	14,591	21,255
Operating expenses	3,282	6,274
Operating income	11,309	14,981
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(99)	(83)
General and administrative	(31,101)	(29,530)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,028)	(32,712)
Shareholder litigation expense		(51,745)
Asset impairments		(1,308)
Interest expense, net	(22,920)	(18,428)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	2,261
Other income (expense)	1,042	(148)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 34	$ 36