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			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 456,697	$ 464,571		$ 909,685	$ 919,289
Operating expenses	349,000	333,070		693,629	665,954
General and administrative	(31,513)	(33,228)		(62,614)	(62,758)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,259)	(34,084)		(64,287)	(66,796)
Shareholder litigation expense	(1,900)	(2,550)	$ (51,700)	(1,900)	(54,295)	$ (54,300)
Asset impairments		(2,866)			(4,174)
Interest expense, net	(21,668)	(23,222)		(44,588)	(41,650)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(6,805)	(52,167)		(6,805)	(52,167)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	(1,060)	(38,766)		(3,321)	(38,766)
Other income (expense)	(37)	(8)		1,005	(156)
Income before income taxes	14,575	22,142		40,188	10,105
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	456,655	464,541		909,609	919,223
Operating expenses	348,920	332,972		693,450	665,773
Operating income	107,735	131,569		216,159	253,450
Operating Segments | Safety
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	416,354	419,880		830,602	829,649
Operating expenses	324,261	307,280		645,282	612,707
Operating income	92,093	112,600		185,320	216,942
Operating Segments | Community
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	25,775	24,929		49,890	48,587
Operating expenses	21,282	20,024		41,509	41,124
Operating income	4,493	4,905		8,381	7,463
Operating Segments | CoreCivic Properties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	14,526	19,732		29,117	40,987
Operating expenses	3,377	5,668		6,659	11,942
Operating income	11,149	14,064		22,458	29,045
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other operating expense	(80)	(98)		(179)	(181)
General and administrative	(31,513)	(33,228)		(62,614)	(62,758)
Depreciation and amortization	(32,259)	(34,084)		(64,287)	(66,796)
Shareholder litigation expense	(1,900)	(2,550)		(1,900)	(54,295)
Asset impairments		(2,866)			(4,174)
Interest expense, net	(21,668)	(23,222)		(44,588)	(41,650)
Expenses associated with debt repayments and refinancing transactions	(6,805)	(52,167)		(6,805)	(52,167)
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net	1,060	38,766		3,321	38,766
Other income (expense)	(37)	(8)		1,005	(156)
Segment Reconciling Items | Other Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 42	$ 30		$ 76	$ 66